Abstract
Purpose
Children who experience a family breakdown due to the separation or divorce of their parents may be at an increased risk of violent offending especially if they have experienced a disadvantaged upbringing that included low family income, marital disharmony, or parental criminality.
Methods
Using data from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, we examine the effect of experiencing a broken home on subsequent violence. We further examine possible mediators and moderators of this effect.
Results
We find that self-reported violence and hyperactivity act as possible mediators on the effect of a broken home on later violent convictions. We also find evidence for moderation of this effect by harsh discipline, nervousness, low family income, and having a young mother.
Conclusions
We discuss the findings in the context of future research and possible policy recommendations.
Children who experience a family breakdown due to the separation or divorce of their parents may be at an increased risk of violent offending especially if they have experienced a disadvantaged upbringing that included low family income, marital disharmony, or parental criminality.
Methods
Using data from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development, we examine the effect of experiencing a broken home on subsequent violence. We further examine possible mediators and moderators of this effect.
Results
We find that self-reported violence and hyperactivity act as possible mediators on the effect of a broken home on later violent convictions. We also find evidence for moderation of this effect by harsh discipline, nervousness, low family income, and having a young mother.
Conclusions
We discuss the findings in the context of future research and possible policy recommendations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 44-52 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2013 |
