Why is Parenting Related to Adolescent Delinquency? A Between- and Within-Person Analysis of Intervening Mechanisms

• In Event: Parenting and Delinquency: International Research

Abstract

A large body of research has demonstrated that parenting is related to adolescent delinquency. The present study involves an examination of the relative contribution of four mediators between parenting and delinquency derived from self-control theory (i.e. self-control), differential association theory (i.e. delinquent attitudes) and opportunity theories (i.e. association with delinquent peers and time spent in criminogenic settings). The present study therefor directly contributes to refining our understanding of how parenting is able to prevent adolescent delinquent behavior. Using multilevel path analyses on two waves of panel data on a Dutch sample of 603 adolescents (12-19 years of age) we examined both differences between individuals (between-person level) as well as changes over time (within-person level). Findings show that all mediators offer a unique contribution to explaining adolescent crime involvement. However, the most striking finding is that only when including all mediators, the associations between parenting and delinquency appear to be fully mediated. Although these various theories are usually seen as competing theoretical frameworks, the findings of the present study suggest that they might actually be complimentary. Combined, these individual and contextual factors provide a more extensive explanation of adolescent crime involvement.

Authors

• Heleen Janssen, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)

• Gerben J. N. Bruinsma, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)

• Maja Deković, Utrecht University

• Veroni I. Eichelsheim, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)