The Influence of Parenting on Delinquency: The Mediating Role of Peers and the Moderating Role of Self-Control

• Published date: 01 June 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241229678
• Author: James V. Ray,Hyunmin Park
• Date: 01 June 2024
• Subject Matter: Articles

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR, 2024, Vol. 51, No. 6, June 2024, 876 –895.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241229678

Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions

© 2024 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

876

THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTING ON

DELINQUENCY

The Mediating Role of Peers and the Moderating Role

of Self-Control

JAMES V. RAY

HYUNMIN PARK

University of Central Florida

This study uses data from the Pathways to Desistence study to test if parenting (monitoring and warmth) indirectly influences

delinquency through its impact on delinquent peer association (antisocial influence and behavior) among a sample of serious

juvenile offenders (n = 1,354) and if this indirect effect is moderated by self-control. The results suggest that parental

monitoring (but not warmth) predicted delinquency through both peer antisocial influence and peer behavior. Specifically,

lower monitoring result in higher peer effects that, in turn, contribute to higher delinquency. The findings also suggest that

this process is moderated by self-control such that the indirect effect is only significant at lower levels of self-control. The

current study has important implications for understanding the role that peers and self-control play on the relationship

between specific aspects of parenting. These findings can help to inform intervention and prevention programs that focus on

enhancing parenting to reduce delinquency.

Keywords: parenting; peers; delinquency; mediation; moderation; moderated-mediation

Theory and research have identified parenting (e.g., warmth and supervision) to be an

important protective factor from delinquency and antisocial behavior (Hoeve et al.,

2009, 2012). It has been suggested, however, that the protective effect of parenting may

operate through other factors such as peer association (Patterson et al., 1991). That is, warm

and caring parenting and proper supervision has the potential to limit one’s association with

delinquent peers and provide bonds strong enough to resist peer influence. In turn, such

youth are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior. However, most of the research testing

this process has considered both parenting and peer effects as unitary constructs. Examining

how unique aspects of parenting (i.e., warmth and supervision) can influence peer effects

AUTHORS’ NOTE: We have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article

should be addressed to James V. Ray, Department of Criminal Justice, College of Community Innovation and

Education, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, Bldg. 80, Suite 311, Orlando, FL 32816;

e-mail: james.ray@ucf.edu.

1229678CJBXXX10.1177/00938548241229678Criminal Justice and BehaviorRay, Park / Parenting, Peers, Self-Control

research-article2024

Ray and Park / PARENTING, PEERS, SELF-CONTROL 877

(i.e., peer antisocial influence and delinquent peer association) to, in turn, influence delin-

quency has important implications for both theory and practice.

It is also important to consider that this process may not operate the same for all indi-

viduals. Identifying factors that might impact this process has the potential to provide a

more thorough understanding of how parenting might affect the influence of peers on

delinquent behavior. For example, high levels of parental monitoring may be effective at

reducing delinquency for some youth but not others depending on certain characteristics.

One possible individual-level characteristic that might moderate this process is self-con-

trol (e.g., poor impulse control and aggression; Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). That is, it

is possible that the mediational effect of peers on the relationship between parenting and

delinquency is contingent on one’s level of self-control. Research has shown that self-

control moderates the association between parenting and delinquency (Jones et al., 2007)

as well as peers and delinquency (e.g., Meldrum et al., 2013). However, it has yet to be

tested if self-control moderates the indirect effect of unique aspects of parenting on delin-

quency through peer association.

This study addresses these gaps in prior research in two ways. First, this mediation

process is examined while considering distinct aspects of parenting (warmth and supervi-

sion) and peers (delinquent peer association and peer antisocial influence). That is, sepa-

rate mediation models are specified for each aspect of parenting with each aspect of

peers. Second, for each of the models for which mediation was observed, it was tested if

a measure of self-control moderated this mediation process. In other words, it is exam-

ined if the indirect effect of parenting on offending through peers is dependent on one’s

level of self-control. This can help to inform prevention and treatment efforts by identify-

ing specific aspects of parenting that would be effective treatment targets as well as those

specific aspects of peer association through which parenting operates to reduce delin-

quency. In addition, identifying individual characteristics such as self-control that might

moderate this process can help to determine for whom treatment efforts aimed at enhanc-

ing parenting might be most effective.

DO PEER EFFECTS MEDIATE THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PARENTING AND

DELINQUENCY?

Parenting plays an important role in the socialization of youth and its role in offending is

considered in many major theories of delinquency. Social control theory (Hirschi, 1969)

highlights the importance of attachment to parents as factors that tie youth to conforming

behavior and, in turn, prevent them from engaging in antisocial behavior. In social learning

theory, Akers (2009) highlights the importance of parents as models of behavior and atti-

tudes which children observe and then mimic and adopt. Empirically, research has shown

that parenting is a robust factor in the development of antisocial behavior (Hoeve et al.,

2009, 2012). Research has also identified unique aspects of parenting and their relative

influence on delinquency. Two notable aspects of parenting that have been consistently

linked to delinquency are monitoring and warmth. Parental warmth refers to a parent−child

relationship characterized by healthy attachment that generates positive emotions and

strengthens the parent−child bond (e.g., Anderson et al., 2018; Fletcher et al., 2000; Kerr &

Stattin, 2003). Parental monitoring refers to the degree that parents supervise their chil-

dren’s behavior and the level of knowledge they have regarding their child’s activities,