13 Familial Influences on the Development of Serious Conduct Problems and Delinquency

Revista INFAD de Psicología

2016

In this paper we use a SEM analysis to test an explanatory model for antisocial behaviour in adolescence that includes dimensions that have a direct effect on antisocial behaviour (psychoticism and self-control), and dimensions that are relatively malleable during this developmental stage and mediate the role of age on antisocial behaviour (family environment and conformity to social rules). A structural equations model was tested with a sample of 489 participants between 9 and 17 years old. Results show a good fitting model where psychoticism, self-control, age, social conformity and family environment are intertwined in a complex net of relations and effects involved in the explanation of adolescent antisocial behaviour.Conclusions embrace the differentiated nature of each predictor and its role both directly and in relation to other predictors. The complexity of adolescent antisocial behaviour became evident, showing that it cannot be addressed in simplistic terms, as we need to account for several variables' direct and indirect effects.Keywords: antisocial behaviour, personality, family, adolescence, social conformity RESUMO Apresentamos a análise de um Modelo de Equações Estruturais para testar um modelo explicativo para o comportamento antissocial na adolescência que inclui dimensões com efeito direto no comportamento antissocial (psicoticismo e autocontrolo) e dimensões que apresentam mais variabilidade ao longo deste estádio de desenvolvimento e que medeiam o papel da idade com comportamento antissocial (ambiente familiar e conformidade social).Foi testado um modelo de equações estruturais com uma amostra de 489 jovens entre os 9 e os 17 anos de idade. Os resultados revelam um modelo significativo, com bons indices de ajusta-

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Antisocial Behaviour in Adolescence: Understanding Risk Factors and Mediators Through a Structural Equations Model

Morgado¹,

Revista INFAD de Psicología

2016

“…Several authors have suggested the existence of a negative association between socioeconomic status and antisocial behaviours, which has been generally confirmed by studies on risk factors for deviant conducts (Church II, Jaggers & Taylor, 2012;Tremblay, 2010). It is possible that the effect of socioeconomic conditions on antisocial behaviours is not immediate, but through an indirect influence on deviancy, mediated by other living conditions, especially family factors (Pardini, Waller & Hawes, 2015;Thijs, van Dijk, Stoof & Notten, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Adolescent Antisocial Behaviour: A Comparative Analysis of Male and Female Variables Related to Transgression

Morgado¹,

European Proceedings of Social &Amp; Behavioural Sciences

2016

The adolescent antisocial phenomenon is an important matter for our society due to the increase in frequency and severity of deviant conducts during a developmental stage when individuals face multiple changes. Although most research focuses on male offending, gender differences in antisocial behaviour have been widely recognised. It is important to deepen our knowledge of antisocial behaviour in adolescent males and females, through its related factors and understand gender specificities. We present a research on antisocial manifestations and their relation with gender, age, socioeconomic status, personality, social skills, self-concept, and family environment in a sample of 489 students between 9 and 17 years old (60.5% females). Results show common factors that explain why boys and girls have higher antisocial tendencies: psychoticism and social conformity. In girls self-control was also a factor contributing to determine female antisocial tendency. Significant correlations between antisocial behaviour, age, personality, social skills, self-concept and family environment in boys and girls reveal the importance of individual dispositions. We conclude that there is unexpected equality in contemporary male and female adolescent experiences. Nevertheless, differences in other variables correlated with antisocial behaviour indicate different personal resources and coping mechanisms in boys and that should be addressed in future interventions and longitudinal studies.

“…Hence, family structure factors (single parenting, divorce, family dimension, etc.) and the conflict that may be involved have been identified as determinants of social conducts (Pardini, Waller, & Hawes, 2015;Stadelmann, Perren, Groeben, & VonKlitzing, 2010). Family management practices, including control, discipline, supervision, and rejection (Farrington, 2007), as well the quality of communication and relations within the family (Laub, Sampson, & Sweeten, 2006;Tomé, Camacho, Matos, & Simões, 2015) have been mentioned as significant risk factors for involvement in violence, delinquency and other antisocial manifestations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Portuguese juvenile delinquents: An exploratory study from a sample of institutionalized young offenders

Morgado¹,

2017

Análise Psicológica

Severe antisocial behaviour in adolescence is a matter of concern in every society, especially when it translates in juvenile delinquency that persists through adulthood. In this study, we asked a sample of 121 institutionalized male juvenile offenders (between 14 and 20 years old) to fill several self-report measures to understand young delinquents and their social and academic conditions, behaviour, and individual dispositions. Results reveal peculiarities on academic achievement, socioeconomic status and family size. Analysis confirmed the role of personality, self-concept, self-control and family environment on antisocial scores, especially psychoticism, neuroticism, social conformity, and family environment. Different behavioural subtypes reflect differences in psychoticism, antisocial behaviour and family environment. However, there were no correlations between antisocial tendency and age, school year or family size. Our paper contributes to existing knowledge that supports intervention approaches, stressing that, unlike age, school year or family size, different types of behaviour may require differentiated interventions.