The Influence of Parental Emotional Support and Monitoring on Self-Reported Delinquent Impulsive Behavior and Noncompliance Among Juvenile Offenders: An Examination of Gender Differences

Abstract

This study examined the relationships and influence of parental emotional support and monitoring on impulsive delinquent behavior and noncompliance among a sample of 288 adjudicated juvenile offenders (203 males and 85 females). Among males, increased levels of maternal and paternal supervision and monitoring were associated with decreased levels of noncompliance, and increased maternal supervision significantly decreased impulsive delinquent behavior. Among females, increased maternal and paternal supervision and paternal emotional support was significantly associated with decreased impulsive delinquent behavior, and paternal emotional support was significantly associated with decreased noncompliance among females. For both males and females, parental emotional support and monitoring significantly predicted impulsive delinquent behavior and noncompliance. Maternal monitoring best predicted impulsive delinquent behavior and noncompliance among males. Results revealed no significant gender differences in the prediction of impulsive delinquent behavior. Among females, paternal emotional support better predicted noncompliance. The findings in the current study highlight the significance of gender differences among juvenile offenders when examining the effects of parental involvement and risk to delinquency related behavior.