title: Delinquent-oriented attitudes mediate the relation between parental inconsistent discipline and early adolescent behavior.
abstract: Although substantial research supports the association between parental inconsistent discipline and early adolescent behaviors, less is understood on mechanisms underlying this relation. This study examined the mediating influence of delinquent-oriented attitudes in early adolescence. Using a longitudinal sample of 324 rural adolescents and their parents, findings revealed that inconsistent discipline in sixth grade predicted an increase in adolescent delinquent-oriented attitudes by seventh grade which, in turn, predicted both an increase in early adolescent antisocial behaviors and a decrease in socially competent behaviors by eighth grade. Therefore, it appears that accepting attitudes toward delinquency may in part develop from experiencing inconsistent discipline at home and may offer a possible explanation as to why early adolescents later engage in more antisocial and less socially competent behaviors. Findings may inform family-based preventive intervention programs that seek to decrease behavior problems and promote social competence in early adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, 99 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702, USA. linda.halgunseth@uconn.edu
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Halgunseth
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lippold
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Nix
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012424:Rural Population
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