Article Review:”The Impact of Economic and Parental Characteristics on Juvenile Misconduct”, was written by JANE E. PROCHNOW AND JAMES V. DEFRONZO.

Article Review:“The Impact of Economic and Parental Characteristics on Juvenile Misconduct”, was written by JANE E. PROCHNOW AND JAMES V. DEFRONZO.

Introduction

The following article shows a review of the impact of economic and parental characteristics on juvenile misconduct. Although there are valid points in the article, it encompasses misinterpretation bias and data from other authors analysis on the cause of juvenile misconduct.

Statement of the problem

Despite several years of civilization, juvenile cases remain a major global challenge to parents and the government. Notably, the juvenile has been overrepresented in almost all primary forms of traditional misconducts such as property offences as well as violence. Over the recent past, juvenile misconduct cases have continued to increase. For instance, while the rate for this kind of misconduct for individuals over 24 years of age remained steady from 1985 to 1992 the rate for 16 years of age raised by 138% (Blumstein, 1995). Ideally, the root causes of juvenile delinquencies are not yet recognized, but analysts have hypothesized regarding the influence of the misconducts. However, minor transgressions usually progress at a young age. Thus, the current phenomenon in juvenile delinquencies reveals that Aggressive behaviours may start as early as preschool or in the first few grades of elementary school (Dodge, Pettit, & Bates, 1994). In retrospect, such child delinquencies tend to be tough to change and frequently predicts consistent issues at the age of adolescence as well as adult criminality.

Additionally, the issue of juvenile misconducts is an aggressive problem as criminologists have come up with various theories that show the reasons behind teenage transgressions. Notably, the learning of deviant behaviour is more likely to be a result of interaction whereby a child has an emotionally intimate with the other person such as a parent or a sibling and observes that the behaviour is of benefits to the criminal. For instance, Goodwin (1985) asserts that children raised in a family where older family associates involved themselves in drug abuse were more likely to use drugs than other children. Bohman (1978) determined that offspring raised in a family with a history of criminal behaviour were at a higher risk of being involved in misconducts. These practices create examples of the causes of juvenile delinquencies among the affected children. Children have been exposed to deviant role models were likely to have juvenile misbehaviours (Eron et al., 1982).

Misconducts results from a lack of significant constrain regarding juvenile behaviour. Primarily, those children who do not experience enough parental concern, love as well as oversight as a result of lack of adequate parenting on the part of one or both parents are less inhibited than other juveniles from participating in transgressions. Additionally, Rutter and Giller (1983) show that conflict between family associates could cause delinquency more than family structure.

The economic environment also causes juvenile delinquencies. Juveniles who live in poverty and cannot get access to legal education as well as job opportunities experience frustrations which lead to delinquencies. Robins and Ratcliff (1979) state that children brought up in poverty-stricken areas were disproportionally disposed to drug abuse. Children from environment branded by thrilling poverty were more likely to involve themselves in law-breaking behaviours than others (Bursik & Webb, 1982; Catalano & Hawkins, 1995; Farrington et al., 1990).

Outline of the Methodology

Research Methods: The researchers applied the quantitative approach to gathering data from the research subjects. The method is suitable as it emphasizes statistical, objective as well as the numerical examination of data collected through surveys, interviews and questionnaires. Therefore, the method will support the accuracy of research outcomes as it will provide legit and accurate conclusions.

Research Designs: The researchers applied various research designs to facilitate the gathering of data from the field. Primarily, the researchers used a survey, case-study as well as naturalistic observations.

Sampling: The researchers used stratifies and simple random sampling techniques.

Population size: 303

Data Analysis: The researchers relied on a descriptive analysis method. The use of tables will support effective for reporting data.

Aim of the Review

The review focuses on examining factors that contribute to juvenile misconducts. In retrospect, the rate of minor delinquency cases has become high. Mostly, economic environment, lack of effective parenting as well as the learning of deviant behaviour are the leading factors of juvenile misconducts. Notably, the modern world has been experiencing instances of adolescent transgression. In response to this, the authors have come up with solutions regarding minor misconduct. This review, therefore, focuses on identifying the factors that lead to minor transgressions and solutions to those factors.

Objectives

1. Identifying factors that lead to juvenile misconducts.
2. It is providing solutions to factors that cause juvenile delinquencies.

Critique Review

How authors created data

The authors collected data through the use of interviews, observations, questionnaires, as well as surveys. The survey was chosen through the use of the complete probability technique applied to the adult family hold the population of the U.S. Notably, interviews were carried out at the respondent’s residences. The surveys consisted of three partially overlapping sets of questions known as A, B and C questionnaire subsets. The questionnaires included questions regarding parental behaviours and traits, family features, perceptions, financial experiences, children’s practices as well as hardships as reported by parents. The authors observed different homes. For instance, Goodwin (1985) noted that children brought up in a home where family adherents were involved in drug abuse were most likely to use drugs than other children. Bohman (1978) observed that children raised in a house with a history of criminal conduct were expected to be involved in delinquency than other kids. Robins and Ratcliff (1979) observed that kids brought up in environments with poverty were prone to drug abuse.

How authors measured a concept

The authors intended to measure juvenile misconduct. Primarily, the authors measured juvenile delinquency through the following questions in which the respondents answered “yes” (2) or “no” (1).

1. Did your child have “serious trouble in school” (expelled, dropped out, failing, held back)? 2. Did your child use “drugs” or have a “drinking problem”?
2. Did your child get “arrested” or get “in trouble with the law”?

Also, the measurement was taken through independent variables based on the operationalize basics of the control, learning as well as strain theories of juvenile transgression. Replies to the parental arrest as well as the parental drug issue questions served as indicators of parental role-modelling attributes. On the other hand, a parent’s level of education signified a positive modelling characteristic. The parental arrest was measured by questioning the parent whether he or she had been arrested during the previous two years and the ratio of yes to no was 2:1 respectively. Based on the parental drug use, the parent was questioned whether during the past year he or she had used illegal drugs, and the ratio of yes to no was 2:1 respectively.  Also, parental education information was gained by questioning the parent how many years of schooling he or she had finished.

Control theory was operationalized through three variables which include: parental mental disorder, divorce as well as spousal problems. A parent’s experience of separation was measured by asking the parents if he or she had been divorced, and the ratio of yes to no was 2:1, respectively. The parental mental disorder was measured by questioning the parent whether he or she had undergone mental disorder during the last year and the ratio of yes to no was 2:1 correspondingly.

The Strain theory was based on the perceptions of economic status, and it consisted of four indexes. The first financial index measured a respondent perception of his or her economic situation. The outcomes of the three responses to whether the individuals were pretty well satisfied, more or less satisfied and not satisfied at all were 3:2:1 respectively. The second economic index consisted of three items that were indicators of minor financial challenges, and the sum of the three replies had a ratio of 2:1. The third economic index consisted of three pieces that indicated moderate financial difficulties and the amount of the responses based on the maximum and minimum rate was 2:1. The fourth economic index consisted of three items that shown extreme financial problems in such a way the responded was not able to secure basic needs, and the maximum value and the minimum value ratio was 2:1 correspondingly.

There is bias in this article. The results of several crime self-report studies (Moffitt, 1993; Moffitt, Lynam, & Silva, 1994) showed significantly larger proportions of young individuals involved in antisocial behaviour than was correct for this sample. Ideally, the range of misconduct provided in the self-report study is very different and consist of many types of delinquencies, such as getting into fights, shoplifting compared to this study which depended on parental reports. However, the percentage of misconduct children in this sample was smaller than in the distinctive child self-report surveys and matched more closely to the rate of juveniles.

The variables are not sufficient for the study. In retrospect, not all variables are useful for juvenile misconduct. Primarily, the results illustrate that the three parental model features were significantly related to some types of delinquency. The social learning element displayed vital relationships with parental drug problems. Also, the results showed that neither parental unemployment nor actual parental income had any crucial relation to juvenile misconduct. Additionally, only the experience of extreme financial adversity such as homelessness as well as the inability to purchase required food or medical care would promote transgression.

Findings

The results suggest that certain types of juvenile misconduct of child arrest and child drug use are likely to be the product of parental difficulties that lead to family disorganization; therefore, it is hard to control the children. Also, extreme economic deprivation, unlike familial modelling factors.

The current study had limitations that require to be addressed (Alternatives). In addition to parental assessments of child misconduct, extra measures of child delinquency should be employed as dependent variables. Also, data should be taken on various forms of misconduct behaviour, including different means of property crime as well as violent misbehaviour. Lastly, data on peer behaviours and attitudes based on measured forms of misconduct require to be incorporated as further hypothetical explanatory variables of the social learning outlook.

Reliability

The article is significant to the point that it has provided with the factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency as well as the solutions regarding those issues. For instance, the article indicates that society must prevent individuals from undergoing extreme economic hardships to reduce criminal activity. The learning theory proposes that the nation should fight misconduct by isolating young individuals from deviant role models as well as providing them with positive, law-abiding models. Control theorist suggests that the effective method to reduce misconduct is to promote family stability, effective parenting as well as positive emotional relations among family associates. Strain theorist indicates that the best way to reduce delinquency should be economical and should provide measures such as giving non-disabled parents with employment that provide enough income.

Conclusion

In brief, Juvenile misconduct can be avoided if only the right measures are taken. Primarily, juvenile delinquency in most cases occurs due to poverty, poor parenting, as well as the learning of deviant behaviour. Ideally, apart from the humanitarian and moral matters involved more children experiencing economic conditions such as lack of medical care or unable to acquire food are more likely to experience juvenile misconduct. Therefore, the government should take the needed measures to reduce the cases of teenage transgression.

References

Prochnow, J. E., & DeFronzo, J. V. (1997). The Impact of Economic and Parental Characteristics on Juvenile Misconduct. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 5(2), 119-124. https://doi.org/10.1177/106342669700500206