Rethinking the Paradigm of Juvenile Delinquency as Related to Divorce

Abstract

This meta-analysis involved 72 studies. Results indicate that children from divorced homes have higher rates of delinquency (status offenses, crimes against persons, felony theft, general delinquency, tobacco and drug use) except alcohol use when compared to children from intact homes. Other findings revealed that black and younger children were more delinquent than white and older children. Samples including both male and female children and upper class children were more likely to be involved in delinquency than samples with only male or female children or children from other social classes. Studies conducted in the 1990s and those that used frequency measures were also more likely to show negative outcomes of delinquency. Finally, effect sizes were more positive for clinical samples.

Key Words:

• Divorce
• juvenile delinquency
• adolescents
• children
• parents