Abstract
This study evaluated the assumption that the family relations of female delinquents are more dysfunctional than those of male delinquents. In a 2 × 2 (gender by delinquency status) design, 32 intact families were matched on demographic variables, and the male and female delinquents were matched on arrest data. Mothers, fathers, and adolescents were administered a selfreport personality inventory and were observed during a family interaction task. Consistent with the extant literature, families of delinquents had low rates of facultative information exchange and delinquent adolescents were more dominant toward their mothers than were well-adjusted adolescents. It was also observed that fathers of delinquents were more dominant toward their wives than were fathers of well-adjusted adolescents. In regard to the primary purpose of the study, it was observed that mother-adolescent dyads and parents in families of female delinquents had higher rates of conflict than their counterparts in families of male delinquents. In addition, the fathers of female delinquents were more neurotic than the fathers of male delinquents. These findings provide some support for the view that the families of female deliquents are especially dysfunctional.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler, F. (1975).Sisters in crime. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Alexander, J. F. (1973). Defensive and supportive communication in normal and deviant families.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 40, 223–231.
Alexander, J. F., Barton, C., Schiva, R. S., & Parsons, B. V. (1976). Systems-behavioral interventions with families of delinquents: Therapist characteristics, family behavior, and outcome.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 44, 656–664.
Barry, W. A. (1970). Marriage research and conflict: An integrative review.Psychological Bulletin, 73, 41–54.
Block, J. H. (1983). Differential premises arising from differential socialization of the sexes: Some conjectures.Child Development, 54, 1335–1354.
Chesney-Lind, M. (1977). Judicial paternalism and the female status offender: Training women to know their place.Crime and Delinquency, 23, 121–128.
Cockburn, J., & McClay, I. (1965). Sex differentials in juvenile delinquency.British Journal of Criminology, 5, 289–306.
Comrey, A. L., & Schiebel, D. (1985). Personality test correlates of psychiatric case history data.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 470–479.
Conger, J. J., & Peterson, A. C. (1984).Adolescence and youth: Psychological development in a changing world (3rd ed.). New York: Harper & Row.
Druckman, J. M. (1979). A family-oriented policy and treatment program for female juvenile status offenders.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 627–636.
Eysenck, H. J., & Eysenck, S. B. G. (1963).Eysenck Personality Inventory. San Diego: Educational and Industrial Testing Service.
Farina, A. (1960). Patterns of role dominance and conflict in parents of schizophrenic patients.Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 61, 31–38.
Felice, M., & Offord, D. R. (1964). Girl delinquency: A review. In R. S. Cavan (Ed.),Readings in juvenile delinquency (pp. 267–278). Philadelphia: Lippincott.
Furnham, A. (1984). Personality, social skills, anomie and delinquency: A self report study of a group of normal non-delinquent adolescents.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 25, 409–420.
Ganzer, V. J., & Sarason, I. G. (1973). Variables associated with recidivism among juvenile delinquents.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 40, 1–5.
Gibbons, D. C. (1976).Delinquent behavior (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Grotevant, H. D., & Cooper, C. R. (1983, April).The role of family communication patterns in adolescent identity and role taking. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Detroit.
Hanson, C. L., Henggeler, S. W., Haefele, W. F., & Rodick, J. D. (1984). Demographic, individual, and family relationship correlates of serious and repeated crime among adolescents and their siblings.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 528–538.
Henggeler, S. W., Hanson, C. L., Borduin, C. M., & Haefele, W. F. (1985).Dimensions of parent-adolescent interaction in healthy and delinquent families. Unpublished manuscript.
Henggeler, S. W., Hanson, C. L., Borduin, C. M., Watson, S. M., & Brunk, M. A. (1985). Mother-son relations of juvenile felons.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 942–943.
Henggeler, S. W., Rodick, J. D., Borduin, C. M., Hanson, C. L., Watson, S. M., & Urey, J. M. (1986). Multisystemic treatment of juvenile offenders: Effects on adolescent behavior and family interaction.Developmental Psychology, 22, 132–141.
Henggeler, S. W., & Tavormina, J. B. (1980). Social class and race differences in family interaction: Pathological, normative, or confounding methodological factors.Journal of Genetic Psychology, 137, 211–222.
Hetherington, E. M., Stouwie, R. J., & Ridberg, E. H. (1971). Patterns of family interaction and child-rearing attitudes related to three dimensions of juvenile delinquency.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 78, 160–176.
Hoffman, M. L. (1979). Development of moral thought, feeling, and behavior,American Psychologist, 10, 958–966.
Jacob, T. (1974). Patterns of family conflict and dominance as a function of child age and social class.Developmental Psychology, 10, 1–12.
Jones, M. B., Offord, D. R., & Abrams, N. (1980). Brothers, sisters, and antisocial behavior.British Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 139–145.
Kern, R. P., & Bales, W. D. (1980). Measuring the severity of self-reported delinquency: The development of a seriousness scale.Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 71, 637–645.
Klein, N. C., Alexander, J. F., & Parsons, B. V. (1977). Impact of family systems intervention on recidivism and sibling delinquency: A model of primary prevention and program evaluation.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 469–474.
Loeber, R. (1982). The stability of antisocial and delinquent child behavior: A review.Child Development, 53, 1431–1446.
Loeber, R., & Dishion T. (1983). Early predictors of male delinquency: A review.Psychological Bulletin, 94, 68–99.
Mishler, E. G., & Waxler, N. E. (1968).Family processess and schizophrenia: Theory and selected experimental studies. New York: Science House.
Morris, R. (1964). Female delinquency and relational problems.Social Forces, 43, 82–89.
Nettler, G. (1978).Explaining crime (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hall.
Nye, F. I. (1958).Family relationships and delinquent behavior. New York: Wiley.
Quay, H. C., Peterson, D. R., & Consalvi, C. (1960). The interpretation of three personality factors in juvenile delinquency.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 24, 555.
Reige, M. G. (1972). Parental affection and juvenile delinquency in girls.British Journal of Criminology, 12, 55–73.
Riskin, J., & Faunce, E. E. (1970). Family interaction scales III. Discussion of methodology and substantive findings.Archives of General Psychiatry, 22, 527–537.
Roff, J. D., & Wirt, R. D. (1984). Childhood aggression and social adjustment as antecedents of delinquency.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 12, 111–126.
Rutter, M., & Madge, N. (1976).Cycles of disadvantage. London: Heinemann Educational Books.
Severy, L. J., & Morton, D. S. (1982).Memphis-Metro Youth Diversion Project: Local evaluation final report. Memphis: U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Simon, R. J. (1975).Women and crime. Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington Books.
Simons, R. L., Miller, M. G., & Aigner, S. M. (1980). Contemporary theories of deviance and female delinquency: An empirical test.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 17, 42–57.
Smart, C. (1977).Women, crime and criminology: A feminist critique. Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Steinberg, L. D. (1981). Transformations in family relations at puberty.Developmental Psychology, 17, 833–840.
Toby, J. (1957). The differential impact of family disorganization.American Sociological Review, 22, 505–512.
U. S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. (1984).Uniform crime reports. Washington, D.C.: Author.
Widom, C. S. (1978). Toward an understanding of female criminality. In B. A. Maher (Ed.),Progress in experimental personality research (Vol. 8, pp. 245–308). New York: Academic Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by funding to the Department of Psychology at Memphis State University granted through the Centers of Excellence Program of the State of Tennessee. We gwratefully appreciate the cooperation of Judge Kenneth Turner of Memphis Juvenile Court, and of George Relyea, who has provided statistical consultation over the years.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Henggeler, S.W., Edwards, J. & Borduin, C.M. The family relations of female juvenile delinquents. J Abnorm Child Psychol 15, 199–209 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916349
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916349