Parental Low Self-Control, Parental Socialization, Young Adult Low Self-Control, and Offending

Abstract

Significant attention has been directed at evaluating Gottfredson and Hirschi’s claim that parental socialization has a direct influence on self-control and an indirect influence on criminal behavior. Yet, only recently have researchers investigated the role parental self-control occupies in shaping these processes. To advance research in this area, the current study utilizes data collected on a sample of young adults ( n = 420) to examine how parental low self-control is related to parental socialization, young adult low self-control, and young adult offending. In support of the hypothesized model, the results of a structural equation model indicate the effect of parental low self-control on young adult low self-control is indirect through parental socialization, the effect of parental socialization on young adult offending is indirect through young adult low self-control, and the effect of parental low self-control on young adult offending is indirect through both parental socialization and young adult low self-control.