title: Comparison of Family Power Structure and Identity Style Between Delinquent and Non-Delinquent Juveniles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescence denotes a time in which youth begins to experience dangerous behaviors like substance use and delinquency.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated the family power structure and identity style in delinquent and non-delinquent juveniles residing in Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  To accomplish the goal of the study, 80 adolescent delinquents of the correction and rehabilitation centers aged between 15 and 18 years were selected with convenience sampling method and 80 students of secondary school age between 15 and 18 years in Tehran, Iran in 2012. They answered the instrument of family power structure (Saidian, 2004) and identity style (ISI-6G: White et al. 1998). The obtained data were analyzed using the independent t-test, chi-square test, and Levene's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings indicated a significant difference between delinquent and non-delinquent juveniles with regard to family power structure, its subscales (P < 0.001), and identity style (P < 0.001). Moreover, the informational identity style was associated with lower levels of delinquency. In addition, a diffuse-evident identity style was related to the delinquency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results emphasize that the inappropriate decision-making process pattern in a family has a significant effect on deviant behavior and identity style in adolescents. So, family power structure can be considered in therapeutic interventions (prevention and treatment) for adolescent delinquency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling and Psychology, Institute of Higher Education of Khatam, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Anahita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khodabakhshi Koolaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahmatizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shaghelanilor
authors.affiliation: Medical Educator, Medical Publisher, Medi and World International, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pocock
keywords: Delinquency; Family; Identity; Parenting
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