Parenting Styles, Attachment Styles, and Family Structure as Predictors of Juvenile Delinquency

The present study was carried out to examine attachment styles, parenting styles, and family structure as predictors of juvenile delinquency among teenage boys in Sari (Mazandaran province). The study was conducted among two groups of offender and non-offender teenagers aged 12-17 years. The instrumentation comprised Baumrind Parenting Style Questionnaire, Armsden and Greenberg Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, as well as Family Assessment Device. Descriptive statistics and discriminant analysis were used for the purpose of data analysis. The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis that juvenile delinquency can be predicted on the basis of variables such as maternal attachment styles, parenting styles and family structure.