![Sample our Law journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5942/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Law.jpg"})
Abstract
The article elaborates on central interpretations of the general theory of crime regarding parental control, self-control, and delinquency by analyzing the effect of parental control on the association between low self-control and adolescents’ offline and online delinquency. Analyses employ mediation and moderation models via structural equation modeling with a nationally representative sample of Finnish adolescents (N = 6,061). Results indicate parental control had direct and indirect associations (via self-control) with offline delinquency. Whereas, parental control had only an indirect association with delinquency online. The direct association between self-control (internal control) and offline and online delinquency was moderated by parental social control (external control). General theory of crime provides a useful perspective for exploring the effect of parental control on adolescents’ delinquency. Findings bring new evidence on the dynamics between low self-control and parental control. Future studies should continue investigating the interplay between internal and external controls.
Disclosure statement
There is no conflict of interests.
Notes
1 Respondents were not able to continue to the next question in this online-questionnaire if they had not answered the key preceding questions.
2 We conducted additional analyses involving the 240 respondents with both offline and online delinquent behavior excluded from the main analyses. The inclusion of these respondents yielded slightly different estimates. Direct associations between self-control and offline as well as online delinquency remained significant (p < 0.05). Direct associations between parental control and offline delinquency remained significant (p < 0.001) and direct associations between parental control and online delinquency remained insignificant. However, the estimated moderation and mediation effects were not significant (p > 0.05) in this model.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Noora Ellonen
Noora Ellonen, Dr. Soc. Sci., is a University Lecturer at Tampere University, Finland. She has extensive experience in studying violence against children among other types of interpersonal violence. [email: [email protected]].
Jaana Minkkinen
Jaana Minkkinen, Dr. Soc. Sci., is a postdoctoral researcher at Tampere University, Finland. Dr. Minkkinen has published in a variety of areas including adolescents’ mental health, health behavior and school performance, well-being theory, suicide studies, and employee well-being.
Markus Kaakinen
Markus Kaakinen, Dr. Soc. Sci. is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy at the University of Helsinki. His research focuses on youth crime and delinquency with a current emphasis on online aggression and hate crime.
Karoliina Suonpää
Karoliina Suonpää, M. Soc. Sci., is a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy, University of Helsinki. Her dissertation research is focused on social disadvantage and criminal careers of violent offenders. [email: [email protected]].
Bryan Lee Miller
Bryan Lee Miller, PhD., is an Associate Professor at Clemson University, recent Fulbright Scholar at Tampere University, and Chair of the Division of Drug and Alcohol Research Section of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. His research focuses on drugs and society, criminological theory, and criminal justice policy. [email: [email protected]].
Atte Oksanen
Atte Oksanen, Dr. Soc. Sci., is professor of social psychology at Tampere University, Finland. His recent research has focused on social media, online communities, and cyberhate. He has published in a variety of areas including youth studies, drug and alcohol research, and criminology (e.g. Criminology and European Journal of Criminology) [email: [email protected]].