Intrafamily Conflict and Delinquency

Using self-report data on delinquency, this article examines two questions. First, is the relationship between family conflict and delinquency stronger for girls than for boys? Second, is conflict in the home directly related to delinquency or is the relationship mediated by one or more of the following variables: (1) parental supervision; (2) identification with parents; (3) beliefs about the law; and (4) social support for delinquency? The effects of family conflict on status, property, and aggressive delinquency are analyzed with path analytic techniques. Total effects of family conflict for all offense categories are greater for females than for males. However, direct effects of family conflict on property and aggressive offenses are greater for males than for females. When all variables are ranked by explanatory power, similar patterns for females and males emerge. The implications of these results for delinquency theory and research are discussed.