Role of parent-child relationship on stressors and juvenile delinquency

• In Event: Roundtable: Stressful Life in South Korea

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency persists as a social issue in South Korea. The recent Korean report by Institute of Justice indicated that the increase in juvenile delinquency has outpaced that of adult criminal offenders over the past decade. Numerous studies have explored potential factors that contribute to deviant behaviors among South Korean youth, such as delinquent peers, social connections, family relationships, and community features. Despite efforts from various disciplines, juvenile delinquency in South Korea remains unresolved. Drawing from Agnew’s General Strain Theory (GST), this study examines the processes of negative emotions, adolescents’ stressors (i.e., academic stress, relationship with peers and appearance concerns), and parent-child relationship in relation to delinquency. For the examination, this study used the 2021 Korean Children and Youth Well-Being Index (KCYWI) Survey, which combined various items related to the stressors, negative emotions, and juvenile delinquency. Results indicated that the effect of negative emotions on delinquency might be amplified depending on parent-child relationship. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Authors

• Selye Lee, University of North Florida

• Sungil Han, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• Hyunmin Park, University of Central Florida