Abstract
Interparental conflict has been found to positively affect adolescent delinquency; however, the underlying mechanism that explains this association remains unclear. This study investigated whether parental knowledge mediates the association between interparental conflict and adolescent delinquency, and whether this mediating process is moderated by deviant peer affiliation. To examine this, a total of 3,129 Chinese adolescents (47.27% boys, Meanage = 14.94 years) completed a survey. Structural equation modeling indicated that the positive association between interparental conflict and adolescent delinquency is mediated by parental knowledge. Moreover, for adolescents with high deviant peer affiliation, interparental conflict was found to positively predict delinquency via parental knowledge; however, this indirect link was non-significant for adolescents with low deviant peer affiliation. These findings highlight the influence of parental knowledge and deviant peer affiliation on the association between interparental conflict and adolescent delinquency. This can provide guidance for the development of effective interventions that address the adverse effects of interparental conflict.
Highlights
Adolescence is an important developmental period characterized by an increased risk of engaging in delinquent behaviors (Brunelle et al, 2012; Chiang et al, 2020)
This study sought to examine the relationship between interparental conflict and delinquency among Chinese adolescents, with the inclusion of parental knowledge and deviant peer affiliation in the model
This finding is consistent with the family systems theory (Cox and Paley, 2003), which posits that parental knowledge, as a process of social interaction between parents and adolescents, is an underlying mechanism that helps explain why interparental conflict is linked with delinquency
Summary
Adolescence is an important developmental period characterized by an increased risk of engaging in delinquent behaviors (Brunelle et al, 2012; Chiang et al, 2020). Delinquency is defined as various problem behaviors (such as stealing and alcohol use) that reflect negative reactions of adolescents to external environments (Wang et al, 2010). According to the China Justice Big Data Service Platform (2018), by 2017, the number of juvenile delinquents (adolescents who show problem behaviors that violate laws, such as stealing) in China exceeded 30,000, with junior highschool students representing a high-risk group. It is important to explore the external risk factors and possible mechanisms underlying delinquency, as this could contribute to the development of strategies for preventing the onset of delinquency and of interventions for adolescents who are already engaging in delinquent behaviors
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