The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Family environment as risk factor for juvenile delinquency. Self-report study results.

• In Event: Theories and Contexts of Delinquency: International Evidence on the Role of Family, Schools, and Peers

Abstract

In late 2024 and early 2025, we conducted a nationwide self-report survey in Poland, encompassing over 3,000 respondents aged between 13 and 16 years. The survey was designed to assess not only the prevalence of deviant behaviors among adolescents but also to explore various familial factors, including family structure, socioeconomic status, leisure activities, and the nature of parent-child relationships. We performed a correlational analysis to examine the relationships between these familial factors and the incidence of deviant behavior in the adolescent population. Furthermore, we juxtaposed the findings from our self-report studies with the outcomes derived from previously conducted analyses of court records.

Authors

• Dagmara Woźniakowska, University of Warsaw

• Dominik Wzorek, Institute of Law Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences