Abstract
To investigate the link between attachment to parents and delinquency, and the potential moderating effects of age and sex,
74 published and unpublished manuscripts (N = 55,537 participants) were subjected to a multilevel meta-analysis. A mean small to moderate effect size was found (r = 0.18). Poor attachment to parents was significantly linked to delinquency in boys and girls. Stronger effect sizes were
found for attachment to mothers than attachment to fathers. In addition, stronger effect sizes were found if the child and
the parent had the same sex compared to cross-sex pairs of children and parents. Age of the participants moderated the link
between attachment and delinquency: larger effect sizes were found in younger than in older participants. It can be concluded
that attachment is associated with juvenile delinquency. Attachment could therefore be a target for intervention to reduce
or prevent future delinquent behavior in juveniles.
74 published and unpublished manuscripts (N = 55,537 participants) were subjected to a multilevel meta-analysis. A mean small to moderate effect size was found (r = 0.18). Poor attachment to parents was significantly linked to delinquency in boys and girls. Stronger effect sizes were
found for attachment to mothers than attachment to fathers. In addition, stronger effect sizes were found if the child and
the parent had the same sex compared to cross-sex pairs of children and parents. Age of the participants moderated the link
between attachment and delinquency: larger effect sizes were found in younger than in older participants. It can be concluded
that attachment is associated with juvenile delinquency. Attachment could therefore be a target for intervention to reduce
or prevent future delinquent behavior in juveniles.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-011-9608-1
- Authors
- Machteld Hoeve, Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94208, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Geert Jan J. M. Stams, Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94208, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Claudia E. van der Put, Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94208, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Judith Semon Dubas, Department of Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Peter H. van der Laan, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NWO-NSCR), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Jan R. M. Gerris, Institue of Family and Child Care Studies, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627