NCJ Number
218735
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal Volume: 34 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 721-738
Date Published
June 2007
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study tested a model of interactive risk in which parent-child relationships, social-contextual adversity, and antisocial thinking were related to aggressive and delinquent behavior.
Abstract
Results indicated strong associations between aggression and parent-adolescent alienation, but no interactions were found with social-contextual risk and antisocial thinking. Greater parent-child alienation was associated with greater the levels of delinquency irrespective of social-contextual risk. On the other hand, adolescents reporting lower levels of parent-child alienation also reported greater delinquency involvement as social-contextual risk increased. The findings suggest that highly disadvantaged social environments can overwhelm the possible benefits associated with trusting parent-child relationships. Yet, the findings also suggest that parent-adolescent relationships are an appropriate target for intervention efforts designed to lower delinquency. Participants were 85 young offenders referred for court-mandated mental health assessments in Canada. Questionnaires were completed by the participants as part of their assessment at the Family Court Clinic. Questionnaires measured parent-child attachment, antisocial attitudes and beliefs, cumulative social-contextual risk, and antisocial behavior. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression models. Limitations of the study are discussed and include the exclusion of several important aspects of offending behavior. Tables, figures, references