A new study has found that the family structure can have an influence on a teenager’s delinquent behavior. When looking at the family unit and how it affects child development, there are so many factors to take into consideration. Families and home environments come in all shapes and sizes, and experts are always looking for how these can impact how a child grows, and their behavior. These studies can be important to highlight the different needs of youth and to identify who may be at high-risk for negative life aspects down the road.
According to US News, a new study is showing that family structure can influence teen delinquency. Teenagers are in a unique stage of development, and they can start to show the impacts of the home that they grew up in. The study, which can be read in full here, looked at more than 3,800 14- and 15-year-olds.
They looked at survey data that was gathered between 2016 and 2019, and they used a statistical measure called ‘incident rate ratio,’ to compare different groups. They looked at delinquent behavior like shoplifting, graffiti, and robbery, and they came to some interesting conclusions.
They found that teenagers who lived with both their mother and their father had lower rates of delinquent behavior. This was compared to teenagers who just lived with one parent, or a parent and stepparent.
The researchers state that their study shows that more detailed categorizations of family units need to be looked at when it comes to youth delinquency. It is also important to note that the rate of delinquent behavior did drop if the teen lived with only one parent, but the other parent had a large role in their lives and was attached and monitored.
This can help couples who are co-parenting to know that involvement matters, and that it is worth working on any co-parenting relationships to make sure a teen feels like both parents are equally involved.
Previous studies have already pointed this out when looking at delinquent behavior, but they overly simplified the living arrangements, like living with both parents vs. not living with both parents.
The researchers stated further studies need to break down the family units in more detail to get a better look at what is impacting youth and how it can be reversed or stopped. Studies will continue to be done to look at delinquent behavior and see where the cause is coming from.