Juvenile delinquency over the past several years has increasingly become a global issue. According to Parks (2013), the United States has handled over 1.5 million cases associated with juvenile delinquency over the past decade. Several studies were undertaken to examine the issue of juvenile delinquency, and its key drivers point to family structure, socioeconomic paradigm, and the environment. Indeed, family dynamics play a significant role in shaping the behavior of children and youths, and as such, it is considered the most significant cause of juvenile delinquency. Societal trends place the burden of childhood development on family structure. If stressors are present within that family structure, then the risk of antisocial and delinquent behavior developing among the children is high. While family responsibilities have increased with the changing society and social norms, children, for instance, raised in broken or families experiencing conflicts, are at risk of developing delinquent behaviors. This paper explores the dynamics of family disruption and single vs. two-parent households as the critical drivers to juvenile delinquency.
Family Disruption and Juvenile Delinquency
A family structure built on a solid foundation is one that remains coordinated and functional. As such, the family is the primary socializing aspect of every child. When the family structure is disrupted, the child is most likely to develop delinquent behavior. Family disruptions, in most cases, are conflicts among parents that can lead to domestic violence. Children born into these families grow up experiencing physical and emotional disturbances. Away from parental issues, children themselves can contribute to family disruption and subsequent delinquent behaviors. According to Lippold et al. (2018), physical and social changes among the young children into adolescence can cause stable families to experience disruptions. When children transition into adolescents, they spend most of their time with other peers rather than their parents. As such, the parent-child relationship becomes disrupted, conflicts occur, and the children pick up risky behaviors.
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Although, children who grow up witnessing violent family behaviors tend to emulate the same behaviors from their parents. Parents, more so those who indulge in drugs and alcohol abuse, pass on the same behavior to their children. The parental figure is a necessity in any family structure. For instance, if one or all parents engage in substance abuse, the family composition and functionality are disrupted. Such behavior influences the children to adopt the same response as they transition into adolescents. Moreover, these families experience regular conflicts among parents. As such, the children become stressed, depressed, or distanced from their parents, and most find themselves engaging in risk and delinquent behaviors (Vrselja, PandPic, & Golub, 2018). Disrupted families lack the correct skills to raise their children in a socially acceptable environment, impacting how the children perceive and traverse their adolescence stage.
Single vs. Two-Parent Family Dynamics
There is a general notion that single parents lack the required skills to sufficiently supervise and control their children from adopting delinquent behaviors. Much research on single parenthood and delinquent behaviors takes into account the household's socioeconomic status, the parent's ability to supervise the child, monitor their behavior, or inflict punishment. According to Pakstis & Hsieh (2015), children raised in single-parent households are more at risk of developing delinquent and antisocial behaviors as compared to those from two-parent families. There is no doubt that single parents have to work hard to support themselves and their children. However, if the single parents neglect them, the children miss that parental love, supervision, and care they require from their parents. Moreover, Coelho, Neves, & Caridade (2020) note that parental neglect and inadequacy in guidance from single parents force the children, more so boys, to engage in delinquent behavior.
Children growing up with single or divorced parents are exposed to psychological distress. Lack of a fatherly role within a single-parent household is quite challenging for the mothers as fathers are more often linked with supervising and disciplining the child. On the contrary, a family with both parents present enhances the supervision and control of the child's happiness (Parks, 2013). As such, the child feels acceptable, loved, and cared for; hence the child is unlikely to engage in any delinquent behavior. However, children from single-parent households who do not feel loved end up engaging with peers who introduce them to delinquent behaviors. Elsewhere, single parents can get into other relationships that might impact the child. For instance, a mother might bring another man into the house who ends up mistreating the child. Subjecting the child to physical and mental torture can cause the child to seek attention elsewhere, especially in gangs.
Conclusion
Remarkably, family dynamics shape the development of children as they traverse the challenges of adolescence. Juvenile delinquency encompasses all illegal activities and behaviors children engage and adopt due to varied reasons. Family dynamics define society, and inconsistent family structures have contributed to the rising cases of juvenile delinquency. Family disruptions and single-parent households force the children to seek reprieve from their peers. The children lack supervision or do not know how to stress resulting from family disruptions. As such, they pick up delinquent behaviors along the way. Further, children emulate behaviors portrayed by their parents, whether violent or substance abuse. Ultimately, family structure is imperative to the development of a child.
References
Coelho, I. C., Neves, A. C., & Caridade, S. (2020). Risk factors for antisocial behavior in children: comparison between boys and girls/Fatores de risco de comportamento antissocial em criancas: comparacao entre rapazes e garotas. Estudos de Psicologia , 37 , 1S+. Retrieved from https://link-gale-com.db24.linccweb.org/apps/doc/A621690105/IFME?u=lincclin_stc&sid=IFME&xid=8d5a37fc
Lippold, M. A., Hussong, A., Fosco, G. M., & Ram, N. (2018). Lability in the parent’s hostility and warmth toward their adolescent: Linkages to youth delinquency and substance use. Developmental psychology , 54 (2), 348. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000415
Pakstis, D., & Hsieh, P.-C. (2015). How family leisure influences family functionality in single-parent families. Therapeutic Recreation Journal , 49 (4), 331+. Retrieved from https://link-gale-com.db24.linccweb.org/apps/doc/A435755710/AONE?u=lincclin_stc&sid=AONE&xid=737992ef
Parks, A. B. (2013). The effects of family structure on juvenile delinquency. Retrieved from https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3380&context=etd
Vrselja, I., PandPic, M., & Golub, T. L. (2018). THE EFFECTS OF ECOLOGICAL FAMILY DISADVANTAGE ON MALE AND FEMALE ADOLESCENT DELINQUENCY. Drustvena Istrazivanja , 27 (3), 539+. Retrieved from https://link-gale-com.db24.linccweb.org/apps/doc/A561175267/AONE?u=lincclin_stc&sid=AONE&xid=65fb183c
