Family Problems and Juvenile Delinquency

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Family Problems and Juvenile Delinquency

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Introduction

Gorman-Smith, D., Tolan, P.H., Loeber, R., & Henry, D.B (1998). Relation of Family Problems To Patterns of Delinquent Involvement Among Urban Youth. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Vol. 26. No. 5.

Juvenile delinquency has been one of the key and fundamental problems in many parts of the globe. Juvenile delinquency refers to the participation of people below the statutory, legal age in illegal activities. Quite a lot of works have been written, and studies done to examine the various aspects pertaining to this problem. However, one of the most fundamental studies of this menace is the relationship between parenting or family structure and juvenile delinquency, as examined in “Relation of Family problems to Patterns of Delinquent Involvement Among Urban Youth” by Gorman-Smith, et al.

This journal evaluated the relationship between patterns of delinquent behavior and patterns of family problems over a certain period among a sample of minority adolescent males from inner-city. The study identified and included empirically-derived groups of non offenders, escalators, serious, chronic offenders and chronic minor offenders. In addition, the study identified the patterns of family problems and differentially related them to delinquency problems. This study built on four paradigms of family problems identified by Loeber and Stouthamer-Loeber encompassing the existing literature on the categories of family problems related to youth delinquency (Gordman-Smith, et al, 1998). These were neglect, deviant behavior and attitudes, disruption, as well as conflict. Neglect encompassed the lack of parental involvement in the lives of the children and the quality of parental supervision. Disruption encompasses the life circumstances such as parental absence from home, divorce, separation, parental psychopathology and health problems that may disrupt the family functioning, as well as affect the behavior of children (Gordman-Smith, et al, 1998). Conflict encompasses the conflict between children and parents as measured by support within family and discipline practices. Deviant behavior and values encompass families where deviant behavior and values are propped or supported, where the participation of children in deviant behavior does not conflict the beliefs and values of parents rather they are supported.

Two hundred and ninety-eight subjects were interviewed with questions covering the subject, family, peers, school and community. The subjects used in the study were Latino and African-American boys, as well as their caregivers. These subjects were derived from economically disadvantaged inner city neighborhoods of Chicago. 62% of the subjects lived in single-parent homes while 47.6% of families had an overall annual income below $10000. In addition, 73.5% of the subjects had an annual income falling below $20000. The subjects were aged between 11 and 15 years (Gordman-Smith, et al, 1998).

Evaluation of the results was done in two sections. In the first, the researchers evaluated the relationship between each family problem, the involvement of the youth in each of the developmental pathway, and the virtual importance of each in the understanding of overall risk. In addition, the researchers evaluated the relationship between patterns of involvement in delinquent behavior and patterns family functioning over time.

The results of the study indicated that members of the group that participated in serious, persistent offenses had a higher likelihood of having families that are characterized my multiple problems such as conflict, disruption, as well as lack of parental involvement. In some cases, neglect was so severe that it surpassed the legal definition and requirement of neglect. In addition, these people had a higher likelihood of having families that were distinguished by deviant behavior and attitudes (Gordman-Smith, et al, 1998).

The findings provide a test of concurrence between delinquent involvement and family problems. As much as the functioning of family affects youth delinquency and violent behavior, there exists a possibility that the behavior of youths affects the functioning of families. It is worth noting that serious, chronic offenders may disrupt their families to such an extent that the functioning of the family experiences multiple problems (Gordman-Smith, et al, 1998). In addition, the study showed that members belonging to the group that started later and escalated in their delinquent involvement had a significantly less likelihood of having families that incorporate multiple family problems. This group was clearly distinguished from serious, persistent offenders by the fact that they had started their participation in delinquent behavior later on in life, but reached serious levels of participation. This may signal at other factors such as peer influences, which may have considerably stronger relations to delinquent behavior in the case of this group.

The identification of patterns of behavior and its relationship to potential risk characteristics may offer information, which may be translated to action by indicating the outcomes and transitions that are possible for a certain individual. These results would form a fundamental pillar for basing prevention and intervention. It is worth noting that this study does not assume a general relationship between the functioning of family and participation in delinquency (Gordman-Smith, et al, 1998). These results, therefore, suggest targeting certain aspects pertaining to family functioning to impact the varied patterns of delinquent involvement.

This paper shows provides empirical indications that parenting has a key role to play in participation of an individual in juvenile delinquency. Of course, there are other factors that may be at play such as peer pressure in the case of individuals who start participating in the delinquency later on in their lives. This does not in any way undermine the role of parenting and nature of family structure in either eliminating or propagating juvenile delinquency.

References

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