Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.20.1.09
Relationship between Parental Attachments and Delinquent and Risk-Taking Behaviors
Silvija RUČEVIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0001-9091-2924
; Faculty of Philosophy, Osijek
Abstract
The current study examined the association of attachment
analyzed along several dimensions (i.e. communication, trust
and alienation) and severity of delinquent and risk-taking
behaviors in a non-referred sample of boys (n=226) and girls
(n=480), aged 13-19. Specifically, it examined (a) the role of
gender as a moderator in the effect of separate parental
attachments on severity of delinquent and risk-taking
behaviors, and (b) the effect of the number of strong parent-
-adolescent attachments on severity of delinquent and risk-
-taking behaviors. Attachment and delinquent and risk-taking
behaviors were assessed through self-report ratings.
Generally, it was found that gender moderated the
relationship between separate parental attachments and
delinquent, but not risk-taking behaviors. Further investigation
demonstrated that strong attachment to both mother and father was related to a reduced risk for delinquency for boys,
whereas the relationship was less apparent for girls. The
findings also show that strong attachment to one parent is as
effective in inhibiting delinquency as strong attachments to
both parents. It was also found that strong attachment to the
custodial parent in a single-parent home is as effective in
controlling delinquency as strong attachments to both parents
in a two-parent family.
Keywords
attachment; delinquent behavior; risk-taking behavior; social control theory
Hrčak ID:
65357
URI
Publication date:
17.3.2011.
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