PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE Parent-Child Relationships adits Effects on Adolescence Diana E, Nevirez. Ramirez MeKendrve UniversityPARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLES' ENCE 2 Parent-Child Relationships and its Effects on Adolesvence \When we think of what a good parent-child relationship should have what are the frst few things that come to and? Some type of bond to hold the relationship together? Good communication? Cating? Whatever those things are, imagine a chil groveing up without them, ‘What effets would it have on the chil then? Some may argue dat ete significance Retween the more attachment kids have with their parents and the less Hikelihood they are € eommit violent els, However, according tthe Center for Disease Control (2015). Iyouth violence i the thi eading cause of death For young people between the ages of 15-24." So why is youth violence such a leading issue inthis country? ‘One of the factors can be explained by Hirsehi’s (1969) bonding theory. He states that people become deviant when there is a disconneetion from socit in attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief, For the purpose of this study, I will focus only on the connection between atlachment and belief when applied to parent-child relationships. Hirsl 's bonding theory will also help vs understand how adolescents are affected when bones within their family «are broken and what eauses the decision making that could potentially lead to violent behavior ln this study. Hirgchi's bonding theory will be tested to determine whether social bonds stop us from committing acts of violence, even ats younger uge, Even though Hirschi's bonding, theory has been used to explain deviance smongst youth, there has not been enough research one on the specifies of devis ee, in this ease violence, This study will therefore focus on deviant behaviors, but more specifically on violent behavior. ‘The result of this study will serve as additional research pertaining to youth violence and Hirschis bonding theory to hopefully create better and long lasting parent-child relationships in our nation’s fauilies.PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EI Literature Review “The relationship between parent and child has been looked at numerous times especis ‘what these relationships have to do with the child's tendencies involving deviant behavior. Using. the centrl theme that revolves around Hirschi's social bonding theory, which people are inherently selt'inteested, not much fas been dane sogaring alescent's violent behavior. Other theorist ase why people commit deviance but, Hirsch asks why we don’t ‘commit deviant acts since deviance mikes i easier to obtain the resus we wantin situations. Deep down we all have the ability to be deviant but we choose not 10, Here, we looked at the sitachment and belief of parent-child relationships and what that relationship does 10 influence the violent behavio irany, oftheir adolescent offspring. Relationship with Parents ‘The independent variable discusses that of parent-child relationship. A parent-child relationship has different components within itself that make it what iis. That ineludes parental aitachment, monitoring, communication, and involvement. I is important to keepin mind that ‘while thinking of these parel-cild relationships, we are not talking about single-parent households. That would result in information very different from the one concluded now. ‘With that in mind, Stvohschein and Matthew (2015) sate that adoleseents who reeeive parental support and encouragement are fest likely 1 reel agains their parents. This type of interstion between parents and thei children creates an atachinent that allows children to feel that their paren really cave about them, For the most part, child would not want to disappoint someone they have grown a connection with, Therefore, disobeying their parents by rebelling ‘would not be an option if his attachment parents were fo exist. This attachment keeps childrenPARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE 4 from participating in actions that they feel oF know would disappoint their parents, Equally important, Higgins, Jennings, and Money (2008) acknowledge tht when parental attachment decreases, the probability of adolescents committing delinquent acts increases. Included in ‘elnguet aes is violent bebavior whether thats diceted towards parents specially or thers in general, In order fora child to internalize the rues th their parents want them to abide by. they need to have a bond that hokls them aecounable. By haviog parental attachment, adolescents willbe more likely to consider what the consequences of ther actions are. If one of those consequences could be upscting their parents or posibly feting them down, then chances se the adolescent ‘will think tvze before setng. Without this attachment, ny consideration or second thought is gone. However, Stohschein and Matthew (2015) point out that in over for adolescents to even refrain from taking part in deviant setiviies all together, their parents would have 10 be physically present, his brings up the second part of @ parent-child relationship: monitoring f could be argued that this paren-adolescent hond would not he enough 1 slop someone from being deviant, Tha is why parens’ presence nd monitoring would be necessary to keep the ‘tachment between the two, Hischi (2002) includes physical surveillance as one of the key Points that lessens the likelihood of delinqueney amongst children. Although the word surveillaie sounds bordetine ivasive, there are good intentions behind il. For instance, he cls that when someone wants to engage in dlinquene. it will require them 10 do so in a short amount of time. In other word, delinquency is not done long tem but rather quickly I that i the case, then if the opportunity is missed to partake ia delinquency. chances are that person wil not commit to earying out the aetion another ime. Once the opportunity Bone i's gone. Most people will not go out of their way to carry the action out. This is where HirsehiPARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE, 5 suggests that if parents monitor their children regularly ~ which includes knowing of their ‘whereabouts and who they are with ~ that leaves even Tess room for adolescents to engage in delinqvency (2002), This type of parenting should be balanced ina vay that makes the ehikl Fel 4s though their parents are far. 1 monitoring is overdone, tbe child will look at it more as an attack on them mher than as an aot of cae, AS @resul, parents who use more aggressive inethods in their approsch to discipline their children ~ whether that includes emotional or physical aggression — wil most tikely receive the same behavior from thor eikren (Pagani et ah, 2008), Tht is. adokcents retum the aggressive bohavior the ate given. Unlike what was stated before though, this reciprocation of behavior would mean that dhe parentadolescent relationship is still intat: meaning that because the adolescent returned the behavior as it was ‘resented, the bond remained. Here again, the sinilaty remains that paentadolescent relationships are the most significant Finally, communication isthe last parent-child relationship component that ether makes ‘or breaks the bond between parents and their kids. This being so, adolescents become partculasy sensitive to certain “you” statements directed at them by their parents (Pagani et 2008), ‘This kind oF communication creates « disconnection between parents and children because these sons of statements come off so jugmmenaldherefore: dhe strength ofthe parent child relationship lessens. Vhs also sheds light onthe sensitivity adolescents have when it comes to changes in communication with their parents. If a ebild were to iitlly have @ warm relationship wih dir parents but later have one bit more hostile, the change would! definitely impact how the parent and child interacted with each athe. On the contrary, when adolescents are shown support and encouragement instead of eisapproving behavior by ther parents, they develop a sense of belonging (Strohschein & Matthew, 2008). IF this is tme, there needs to be wPARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE, 6 senuine connection between the parent and adolescent, especially on the parents sid, in ordst to successfilly maintain a good parentadolecent relationship, Also, when a parent is not around their kids enough and are mide out to be to controlling ther kids see that as justiieation for bing rebellious. With higher levels of attachment sue! monitoring (parents physivally present) adolescents are less likely to engage in violent aets(Stohschein & Matthew, 2008). Yet again, for this reason, bonds between parents and adolescents are important. Having a parent come ty and discipline «child after not being around enough is a sure way to ereale a disconnection between the two, On top ofthat, the stronger the bonding systems between adolescents and their patents, the les of reason they will ave to enguge in violent behavior Furthermore, the violent behavior ot physical aggression we are looking a is nt limited 4s something done toward others only: it includes harm done wo oneself as well, However, for the most part, studies focused on violent behavior towards parents and violent behavior in enera. Pagan eta (2008) found tht parent and chil aggression is likely reason for the development of aggression later on in adolescence. A possible reason for tis development ean be the aggression tha adolescents display i taught to them by their parents ear in ther life When a child demonstates paterns of violent behavior, then there isa high chance those behaviors will follow in their adolescent years. In addition, what might have stated es verbal aggression couk! have translated to physical aggression ding adolescence asa way to resolve conflict (Pagani, eta, 2008), Violent behavior in adolescence may develop asa way to retaliate ‘agains 9 pate’s harsh punishment, especially amongst adolescents who do not know how to manage ther anger. Regardless of thal Kaiker-affe, Foshee. met, an Suchingran (2012) argue that violent behavior ean be prevented from expanding into adolescence if parents arePARENT-CHILD RELATIONSIIIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE, 7 careful to stop it. Hence, this means that the parent-child attachment has a chance of being. preserved ifit is enough to change a chil’ behavior from the stat. Lastly limited parent-child favelvement™ pays a huge role in why adolescents sort to Violent behavior inthe fist place since itis hard for adolescents to value Someone they have File communication with (Pagan et a, 2008), For this eaton, adaesconts tum tn thee poe overtime for approval. When parents no longer show they care by being a part oftheir ehild's Iie their peers wil ake their place, This breakin attachment supports Hirsh’ social bonding tnory (1969) in that once the stachnent is broken from the sid ond fom ~ inthis ese parents ~ then adolescents are prone to be deviant, Both of these statements foeus on the fat that parental involvement is vital tothe outcome ofa child's behavior. Ii easy to see wy a eild would tur to delinquency wien ther is no ane thee to stop them from doing so. Successful patenting is done when ther is balanced commitment fo the attention and puidance @ chikd reeds. Without it, adolescents can continue tobe influenced by the wrong peopl. Peer Influence as a Third Variable Put together, research on the connection between parent-child relationships and violent behavior dsmonsrates » need for foervetion amongst faites because such isthe influence parenis have on their eildren which leads to the influence of what people they associate with Another valid argument regarding parent-child relationships and its effets on adolescence is that it is inevitable to leave out the connection with peer influence es well, Although this research des not focus on peer influence, its inevitable to talk abou it."Ths, when there isa decrease in family influence, adolescents are more likely to associate with deviant peers (Childs, Sullivan, Gulledge, 2011), 1 is not always the case thal parents are the direct eause of violence amongstSENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND TTS Et CTS ON ADOLESCENCE 8 adolescents bu, rather violent peets that influenced them fo corsmit violent acts in the fitst place (Childs, Sullivan, & Gulledge, 2011}. Looking at the same concept but with a ferent approach, positive parentadolescent communication will lead to @ positive peer to peer association (Noyor Corbett & Moon, 2013). It stil olds true that breaking the attachment between parents and adolescents sil alfects the adolesent’s actions ha, itis their peers that actually influence thee violence, therefore proving the connection between these thre variables parentadolescent relationships, per influence, and violet behavior. Likewise, harsh parenting styles lead adolescents to believe harsh commonieation is the only way to corespond to others By beieving this to be tue, adolescents wil reject nonviolent peers and associate with violent psots therefore adopting their methods. Adolescents are less Tkely to associate with violent peets when their families are well connected and have good parenting (Henry. Tolan & Gorman- Smith, 2001; Benson & Buber, 2012). That includes communicating with their parents on rules in their homes, schoo! progress, and overall well-being. Yet another factor of parent-hikl ‘lationship that influenes vileat behavior isthe lack of bonding and contol (Karsker-affe, Foshee, Ennet, & Suchindran, 2012), When parens do not take the iniiatve to take contol of tir childs violent behavior at an early stage, then the chances of their child continuing to ‘ngage in violent bshavior is very high. Without a parent's intervention, the ehances are slim of reducing. violent behavior since parents re probably the most influential fectors in an tadolescent’s life ‘Theory irschi's social bonding theory is only one of the ways fo approach delinquency, in this case violent behavior amongst adolescents, Social bonding theory as stated by Hirsehi (1969, p 16), “fembraces] two highly complex concepts, the bond of the individual 10 society". AsPARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE, 9 mentioned earlier, when bonds betwen adolescents and their parents are broken, adolescents resort o unusval behavior that is normaly not accepted by society. This isan exemple ofa break in atachment, which is one ofthe four social bonds in this theory. Under this wireamstanee, the atjolescet’s fread of society’ expectations can curso aggression (Hisehi, 1969), Moreover, stuies showed that a break in parent-child attachment isthe Fist step in leading up fo a change in elit, the fourth social bond. The accumulation af bad parenting, lite to no commanivaton, and overall family conflict leads adolescents to accept and helieve the norms of their violent peer, Ie follows that there isa relationship amongst these two elements: tachment and bli Hirsch (1969) points out tha the repect we have for those we Hook up 10 8 what holds that avtachment together. When tha respect lessens ors lst, sos the attachment. The same goes for the relationships adolescents have with their paren. When parents are absent so fequently and they communicate fale promises to their chilen, ther child loses respect for them, When pares are not involve in dei dren's Tvs, they lose espe or ther. Yet another reasons ‘when pants reson to coerive parenting so Fraguenly dei children lose respoet for them. tn cher words, this type of a parenting less oa higher chance of agressive behavior directed citer al their parents or others Although we are given vatious reasons as to why adolescents tur to violence some of thom baing family confit, cooreive parenting, ad emotional disconnection — Hirsch explores further into the theories of others, He reasons that what was once «justification of animal behavior has tured into something thal i inevitably i ll of us ~the urge tobe deviant (Hirsch, 1969), For this eason, we ean assume that although parents are the most influential factors of anPARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS F {CYS ON ADOLESCENCE, 10 adolescent's choices, the wanting of engaging in violent bchavior is in all of us. We all are naturally deviants but we ehoose not to be. Methods Given the information of how influential parents are on their chiktren, the study focuses ‘nthe effects of parent-child relationships their children and the likelihood of them engaging in violent behavior, The questions in the following survey helped reveal early implications of Hirschi's theory (1969) that states we are all enpable and willing to be deviant, but we ehoose not to be, By focusing on questions regarding violent havior and parental involvement, we are able to reason a relationship between the wo. Sample The data used were that of Wileox and Clayton (2001) which included a survey of students, grades 6 1012 ehvoughout the state of Kentucky. This Kentucky Youth Survey was intended vo question students about deinguent behaviors such as smoking, drinking and drug use (Wikox and Clayton, 2001), Even more, it questioned aspects of her Family background, atts toward school, schoo! involvement in victimization and violence, peer behaviors and tcligiousattudes(Wileox and Clayton, 2001). However, this study focuses on the aspects of parental background and involvement and how it relates to violence in adolescents. Parent-adoleseent relationship. In order to measure parent-child relationships the Kentucky Youth Survey asked a series of questions such as: how often my parent(s) seems to ‘understand me, how often my parent(s) makes rules that seem fair to me, how ofen my parent(s)PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE n lows where Tm when [im nt at home, Bow oflen my parent(s) knows wh tam with when sot at home, how olen my peren()s concerned wit How am doing in schoo, how often | share my thoughts an fectngs with my paren). how olen 1 feel unwanted by my parents), and how offen do things with my parent(s) These eight questions included esponses that were coded I=never, 2=almost never, sometimes, 4=most ofthe time, and 9=missing. | eseated an index out ofthese eight questions called the parent-child relationship index. ‘The parent-child relationship index included responses that were coded O=almost never and I~most of the time. “lent behavior. In order to measure experience with violent behavior amongst the tndolescents of Jefferson County, the Kentucky Youth Survey asked questions such as have you ver shoved or tripped someone, ever sat on someone or pinned someone down, ever hit, punched, or slapped someone with your hand or fist ever hit someone with an abject you were holding oF threw, ever pulled, nvisted, squcezed or pinched part of other's body: ever Inia tap for someone so he/she would get hurt, an ever been ina Fist fight, These seven questions included responses that were coded 5. 2no, and 9-missing | erated an index out oF these ‘seven questions called the violence index. The violence index ineluded responses that were coded O-n0 and Control va les. The last ofthe variables were the three control variables sex, age, and race. The sex af the student was determined by I=male and O-female, The students were able to ‘writy in their age themselves from a range of 10.21 years old. However, missing ages were coded to equal 99. Lastly he race of the stents was recoded and determined by O=non-white ancl whitePARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLFSCEN' Results ‘Table 1 provides the descriptives of our variables whieh include the mean, standard deviation, and range, We can see thatthe mean parent-child relationship of respondents is 5.24 ‘out ofa range of 8, We ean also see thatthe mean violence of respondents is 3.10 out ofa range of gover Table 2 illustrates the bi te relations amongst the study variables ts worth noticing ‘there i significant relationship between parent-child relationships and violence. In addition, the ‘variables sex, race, and age proved to havea significant relationship with parent relationships and violence as well, Thus, parent-child relationships proved to be significantly related to violent behaviors amongst adolescents at the bivariate level ‘To tex the effects of parent-child relationships on violent behaviors amongst adolescents, wile controling forse, race, ant age, used ordinary leas! square (OLS) regression modes foreach outcome vaisble. As sen in Table 3, parent-child relationships were signicanly related to violent haviors amongst adolescens, The esulls indieated that parental teltionships were significantly and positively associated with violent behaviors amongst adolescents. In ther words, for every unit ineense i parent-child elaionships, there was & conesponding increase in violent behaviorby 17, contoling forall other variables. Although the age in adolescence wis minisoule fctor in his ty, 8 important fo note tha violence in adolescents was signific lly elaled tothe age in adolescents. which could range Irom 10-21, ‘years old. The results indicated that age was significantly and negatively associated with ViolencePARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE B Conclusion Its important to keepin perspective how parent-child relationships were defined inthis sudy, Parent-child relationships included parental attachment, monitoring, communication, and involvement, With that being said, my analysis did not confirm my hypothesis that as parent- child relationshipe improve Miotont behaviors amongst adolescents deste. A Hittin in ry data restrieted my violence index to measure parental tachment, monitoring communication, and involvement a is most basi lve The lack of variables in my violence index greatly affected my results, ach of my categories for prenal-child relationships lacked ‘questions that would demonstrate a better understanding of what relationships were like armongst the Kentucky Youth and their parents which resulted in my data not supporting my researc. Although my hypothesis was not supported, it does encourage further researc on ‘whether a correlation between the two would depend on which eateyory had more ofan impact: prental attachment, monitoring, communication, or involvement. Another strength ofthis study is that i provides a sense of parent und child dynamics in the ety of Louisville, Kentucky. Purther research should be conducted on how parent-child relationships affect violene youth according to non-white groups, snes this survey's youll ted out tobe predominantly “white As our nation continues to diversify, iis important to explore what changes in relationship dynamies could occur ecoring othe implications being nonwhite may bring. My ‘ata sso proved 1 be significant in levels of violence and sex. Further research should seek to distinguish youth interactions with their parents according to sex and how that affects levels ofPARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND II BEFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE a Despite the limitations of my researc, my research confirmed thatthe more tachment adolescents have to thet parents, the es likely they are to commit delinquent acts, spesificaly ‘olen ats. Some notable factors affecting prenc-adoleseenteatonships were parental support, encouragement, presence, andl monitoring. Without a dou, parents proved tobe the first significant influence in child's fe, Without parental honds holding the paent-adoeseent relationship together, the child wil only look elsewhere for approval or simpy continue ving however seems comfortable atthe ime. Youth violence remains a concem even afer the rests of this researchPARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND ITS EFFECTS ON ADOLES References: Benson, M. J, & Buehler, C. (2012), Funily Process and Peer Deviance Influences on Adolescent Aggression: Longitudinal Effects across Barly and Middle Adolescence, Child Development, 83(4 1213-1228. Center for Disease Control. (2015). [Faetsheet on youth violence in the U. S.). Understanding Youth Violence. Retrieved ftom buspvww ele gov/violenceprevention/pdtlyv-facisheet= apd Childs, K.K., Sullivan, C.F, & Gulledge, L. M. 2011). Delinquent Behavior across ‘Adolescence: Investigating the Shifting Salience of Key Criminological Predictors. Detinguert Behavior, 32, 64-100, Henry, D. B., Tolan, P. H., & Gorman-Smith, D. (2001). Longitudinal Family and Peer Group [feet on Violence and Nonwiolem Delingueney. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30/1), 172186 Higgins, G. E., Jennings, W. G., & Mahoney, M. (2010), Developmental Trajectories of . Deviam Behavior, “Maternal and Paternal Attachment and Delinqueney in Adolesoenes 31, 655-677 Hinschi, (1969). Causey of Delinquency. Berkeley, CA, Los Angeles, CA, & London: University of Catifomia Pres. Hirsi, (2002), Family Structure and Crime In J. 1. Laub (F4). The Craft of Criminology (pp. 167-184). New Brunswick, U.S, A,& London, U, Ks Transaetion Publishers,PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND TTS EFFECTS ON ADOLESCENCE 6 Kersiker-affe, K. J, Foshee, V. A., Ennett, 8. T, & Suchindran, C. (2013), Associations of Neighborhood and Family Factors with Trajectories of Physical and Social Aggression during Adolescence. Journal of Youth Adolescent, 42, 861-877. Noyoti-Corbett,C. & Moon, SS, (2013). Top-Down Beo-Systems of Social Bonding on Juvenile Violent Rehavior: Gender Sensitive Analysie Chill Adaleweent Soeial Work Journal, 30, 961-986, Pagani, L., Tremblay. R, B, Nagin, D., Zoceolillo, M., Vita, F. & Meu P. (2009), Risk actor Models for Adolescent Verbal and Physical Aggression towanl Fathers. Journal of Pamily Violence, 24, 173-182. Strohschein, I. & Matthew, A. (2015). Adolescent Problem Behavior in Toronto, Canada: Associations with Family, Schoo!, and Neighborhood Social Capital. Sociological Inquiry, 85(1). 129-149. Wileox, P. & Clayton, RR, (2001). A Multilevel Analysis of School-Based Weapon Possession, Justice Quarterly, 18(3), 509-541.sod, SIP] SUSIE] TR) ara B0rsTT er N "S| iP05, t BE ET srusosa[opy tr tomneyagr WuDfonA Uo sdiysuonse|oy pyle- wary Jo ABE a HaRENUEN SIPPOFY SLOWSOHTOY STO E a1 soode rr ar ays Wo ser ZI nd sles er ws € ia sousjol i dysuowarny pinged ye eT sojqeuea Kpmag Suour suone|su03 s9pI0-0197 “7214 367 T v seo 0 sony oso aro 3S eer ae ouster, oor acs Arysuonetey puuared ‘as SIgeHEA, SispeIg SmI saygeuea Kpmg 20) sonsneas anndu9soq 1 21981 a SONAOSATOGY NO $L9S4UE SLI GNV SAIHSNOLLV TAY CUHO-LNTAVEbamnbig SONADSTTOGY NO SL9AAdA SLI ONY SATHSNOLLW TSW CUHO-INTIVE wussieg6 zainéig AONIOSTIOMY NO $1934da SLI GNV SdIHSNOLLY TAY OUH-LNTVE