Delinquent-oriented attitudes mediate the relation between parental inconsistent discipline and early adolescent behavior.
- 1 April 2013
- journal article
- Published by American Psychological Association (APA) in Journal of Family Psychology
- Vol. 27 (2), 293-302
- https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031962
Abstract
Although substantial research supports the association between parental inconsistent discipline and early adolescent behaviors, less is understood on mechanisms underlying this relation. This study examined the mediating influence of delinquent-oriented attitudes in early adolescence. Using a longitudinal sample of 324 rural adolescents and their parents, findings revealed that inconsistent discipline in sixth grade predicted an increase in adolescent delinquent-oriented attitudes by seventh grade which, in turn, predicted both an increase in early adolescent antisocial behaviors and a decrease in socially competent behaviors by eighth grade. Therefore, it appears that accepting attitudes toward delinquency may in part develop from experiencing inconsistent discipline at home and may offer a possible explanation as to why early adolescents later engage in more antisocial and less socially competent behaviors. Findings may inform family-based preventive intervention programs that seek to decrease behavior problems and promote social competence in early adolescents.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA013709; F31-DA028047)
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