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The Impact of Economic and Parental Characteristics on Juvenile Misconduct

JANE PROCHNOW, PhD, is on the faculty of the Dept. of Educational Psychology at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Her interests include the effects of child abuse, childhood emotional and behavior disorders, and delinquency. Address: Jane Prochnow, Educational Psychology, Massey University, Private Bag 11–222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

James V. DeFronzo

JAMES DEFRONZO, PhD, is on the faculty of the Dept. of Sociology at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. His interests include criminology, delinquency, and political and social movements.

Data from a U.S. national survey of 303 parents ages 35 to 54 who had had at least one child were analyzed. The potential relationships of parental characteristics to several measures of children's misconduct were evaluated with regard to predictions made by the Social Learning, Control, and Strain theories of delinquency. The results provided at least partial support for all three theories. The two characteristics most consistently found to promote delinquency were a Strain variable—extreme economic distress to the point of being unable to provide necessary food, medical care, and shelter—and a Control variable—parental mental illness. Implications for theory, future research, and social policy (such as welfare reform) are discussed.

Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Vol. 5, No. 2, 119-124 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/106342669700500206


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