Define parental efficacy. Describe the relationship of parental efficacy to delinquency

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Studies show that delinquency will be reduced if both or at least one parent can provide the type of structure that integrates children into families, while giving them the ability to assert their individuality and regulate their own behavior.
• This phenomenon is referred to as parental efficacy.
• In some cultures, emotional support from the mother is critical, whereas in others the father's support remains the key factor.
• Adolescents whose parents maintain close relationships with them report less delinquent behavior and substance use regardless of the type of family structure— that is, blended families, same-sex parents, and so on.
• Youth who reside in homes where parents are warm and giving are more likely to develop personality traits such as a positive self-image that helps them resist the lure of delinquent behaviors.
• This finding suggests that the quality of parent–adolescent relationships better predicts adolescent outcomes than family type.