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The Impact of Parenting on Youth Criminality
Helena Noel

Introduction

Discussion

Should society wish to eradicate crime, we would have to begin by
ensuring children have a positive upbringing (Boshier, 2011). Parents
are the basis of a child’s knowledge and experiences; their input and
guidance molds their child’s development and can ultimately
determine how the child will behave for the entirety of its life
(Boshier, 2011). This report will determine how parenting can increase
the likelihood that a child will become involved in criminality and how
to mitigate this phenomenon. For the purpose of this study,
delinquent behaviours will be equated to criminal behaviours as this
was reflected in the literature (Boshier, 2011; Dubas, Hoeve, Gerris,
Stams, Van Der Laan, & Van Der Put, 2012).

The trends in the literature indicate that parenting styles and
behaviours related to low responsiveness cause delinquency in
children. This might explain why neglecting and authoritarian
parenting produce higher rates of delinquency. However, the reason
why authoritarian parenting causes fewer occurrences of delinquency
than neglecting parenting might be explained by the control aspect of
parenting styles.

Background
The research addressed the question: can parenting increase the
likelihood of children perpetrating criminal activity? This research
aims to conclude whether parenting can cause criminality and
determine what behaviours can create this outcome.
Recommendations could then be offered to avoid criminality from
occurring and identify where future research should be conducted.
The scope was limited to researching current data relating to
parenting and its outcomes on children. This allowed for the
identification of specific parenting behaviours that precipitated child
delinquency.

Methods
A qualitative design was selected for the research and secondary data
was analyzed. This approach allowed for interpretations and theories
to be developed from prevailing literature. To find these sources, a
search of the Justice Institute of British Columbia’s (JIBC) online library
database and Google Scholar was conducted for the literature review.
The articles reviewed as a result of the search were compared against
one another to determine common trends and themes related to
approaches to parenting and child criminality.

Results/Findings
The sources identified multiple aspects of parenting that could result
in the child becoming more likely to engage in criminality. Poor
parent-child relationships were shown to create delinquency (Dubas
et al., 2012). Social control theory explains this as it states that
persons with strong bonds to others are less likely to commit deviant
acts as they seek approval from those they are bonded with (Dubas et
al., 2012). On the other hand, attachment theory could be applied as
it is characterized by the necessity for parental attachment in infancy,
with emphasis placed upon parental responsiveness (Boshier, 2011).
The relationships formed with caregivers at the start of life become
the basis for all social relationships in the future. Poor parent-child
relationships cause the child to develop poor social skills which could
result in delinquency.
Next, parenting styles were identified to be a factor. Parenting styles
are collection of behaviours and approaches a parent applies
consistently, across all situations to care for and manage their child
(Blokland, Dubas, Gerris, Hoeve, Loeber, & Van Der Laan, 2008). The
neglecting style, characterized by low responsiveness to the child’s
needs and exerting low levels of control, was found to be associated
with higher levels of delinquent children. Further, the authoritarian
style (low responsiveness and high control) creates more delinquency
compared to other styles, but not at a rate as great as neglecting
parenting.
Finally, dimensions of parenting behaviours were analyzed and were
of significance in increasing the likelihood of youth criminality. Control
dimensions are parental behaviors that are used to restrict and limit
the child; the demands placed on the child by the parent (Pinquart,
2017). The psychological control dimension (controlling the child
through psychological techniques such as love withdrawal or using
guilt) was associated with the high levels of juvenile delinquency
(Pinquart, 2017).

Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies

It was identified in the literature that psychological parental control
can cause delinquency. Therefore, children who are not subject to
psychological control by authoritarian parents might constitute those
who do not become delinquent; thus explaining the discrepancy in
youth criminal outcomes of parenting styles characterized by low
responsiveness. However, this shows that neither responsiveness nor
control dimensions are sole explanations for how parenting can cause
youth criminality.
Therefore, it might be the parent-child relationship that explains why
neglecting and authoritarian parenting create delinquency. Perhaps it
is psychological control or low responsiveness that disrupt the parentchild relationship and impedes its development. In either case, the
child might perceive that they are not supported by the parent and
experience fewer instances of affection and warmth (Blokland et al.,
2008). It is important for the child to perceive these aspects as being
present as they are key in developing a strong parent-child
relationship (Blokland et al., 2008).

Conclusions or Recommendations
Parents must take a great amount of care when selecting parenting
techniques as the impact they have on their child’s future is profound
(Boshier, 2011). A poor-quality childhood can lead to a myriad of
problems in adulthood (Boshier, 2011). This report established that
there is a link between the parenting style a child experiences and the
likelihood they will become involved in criminality. Specifically, a
neglecting or psychologically controlling approach to parenting results
in greater occurrences of delinquent behaviours. These aspects point
to the fact that the parent-child bond plays an important role in
determining the likelihood of the child becoming delinquent.
However, future studies should be conducted to determine the extent
to which this is true.

References
Blokland , A., Dubas, J. S., Gerris, J. R., Hoeve, M., Loeber, R., & Van
Der Laan, P. H. (2008). Trajectories of delinquency and parenting
styles. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36(2), 223–35.
Retrieved from: https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.libproxy.jibc.ca
Boshier, P. (2011). Parenting and crime: An evidence-based review
with implications for the New Zealand family and youth court.
Family Court Review, 49(1), 8–15. doi:10.1111/j.17441617.2010.01349.x
Dubas, J. S., Hoeve, M., Gerris, J. R. M., Stams, G. J. J. M., Van Der
Laan, P. H., & Van Der Put, C. E. (2012). A meta-analysis of
attachment to parents and delinquency. Journal of Abnormal Child
Psychology, 40(5), 771–785. Retrieved from: https://eds-aebscohost-com.libproxy.jibc.ca
Pinquart, M. (2017). Associations of parenting dimensions and styles
with externalizing problems of children and adolescents: An
updated meta-analysis. Developmental Psychology, 53(5), 873–
932. Retrieved from: https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.libproxy.jibc.ca

Justice Institute of British Columbia

March 2019