ABSTRACT
This study examines the relationship between delinquent activity in young adolescent male subjects living in three household structures: (1) traditional family with a biological mother and father in the home (2) a stepfamily with a biological mother and stepfather in the home, and (3) single mother households. Using data collected from Add Health’s longitudinal survey W1 (n = 2,799, aged ages 11-17), findings suggests that the presence of a father figure during adolescence is likely to have protective effects for males in curbing delinquent behavior. Conversely, findings found single mother households to be significantly and positively associated with delinquent behavior in adolescent males. The presence of a stepfather was negatively associated with delinquent behavior, but not to a significant degree, suggesting an alternative to a biological father in the home may mitigate negative consequences associated with paternal absence.
Keywords: add health, adolescence, boys and men, family, fathers, single mothers
Nate Juda currently works as an adjunct instructor at the University of Mississippi. His research interests include national security, terrorism, enterprise crime, financial crime, and criminal justice issues affecting boys and men
Contact details: njuda@go.olemiss.edu
