The Effects of Gender and Bonding with Paternal Grandparents and Parents on Delinquency among Chinese Adolescents

• In Event: Specifying the Role of Friends and Family in the Etiology of Delinquency

Abstract

This study examines the influences of bonding with parents and paternal grandparents on delinquent participation among Chinese adolescents, and whether these effects may differ for adolescent boys and girls. Using survey data provided by over 2,300 middle school students from Fuzhou City, China, regression analyses yield consistent results with the hypotheses. Chinese adolescents who indicate that they are close to their paternal grandparents and parents tend to report lower levels of delinquency and such effects are independent of each other and the putative common correlates. Furthermore, bonds with parents and paternal grandparents exert stronger effects on adolescent boys than girls and gender differences are observed in the domains of substance use, aggression, and deceitful/dishonest behaviors respectively. The findings are interpreted in light of social bonding theory, parent and grandparent support in Chinese setting, and policy implications.

Authors

• Ruth X. Liu, San Diego State University

• Sheldon Zhang, San Diego State University