Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Effects of Family Type, Family Relationships and Parental Role Models on Delinquency and Alcohol Use Among Flemish Adolescents

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study focused on the effects of family type, family relationships and socialization on alcohol consumption and delinquent behaviour among Flemish adolescents. Data came from the second round of the Leuven Adolescents and Families Study and were collected in 2010 by paper-and-pencil questionnaires in 10 different secondary schools (N = 1,688). The results show that children living in non-intact families are more likely to be delinquent and to drink alcohol at an age it is not legally allowed (below 16 years old). High delinquent behaviour is found among boys in single parent families and among girls in stepfamilies. For alcohol use the reverse is true. A good relationship with the same-sex parent is negatively associated with delinquency. High interparental conflict increases delinquency for boys and alcohol use for girls. Parental role models are highly important, since drinking behaviour of parents, and especially the same-sex parent, are positively associated with externalising problems of children.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amato, P. R. (2001). Children of divorce in the 1990’s: An update of the Amato and Keith (1991) meta-analysis. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 355–370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Amato, P. R. (2006). Marital discord, divorce and children’s well-being: Results from a 20-year longitudinal study of two generations. In A. Clarke-Stewart & J. Dunn (Eds.), Families count, effects on child and adolescent development (pp. 179–202). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Amato, P. R., & Cheadle, J. E. (2005). The long reach of divorce: Divorce and child well-being across three generations. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 191–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amato, P. R., & Cheadle, J. E. (2008). Parental divorce, marital conflict, and children’s behaviour problems: A comparison of adopted and biological children. Social Forces, 86(3), 1139–1162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amato, P. R., & Gilbreth, J. G. (1999). Nonresident fathers and children’s well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 557–573.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amato, P. R., & Keith, B. (1991). Parental divorce and the well-being of children: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 110, 26–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Amato, P. R., & Sobolewski, J. M. (2001). The effect of divorce and marital discord on adult children’s psychological well-being. American Sociological Review, 66, 900–921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baerveldt, C., Van Rossem, R., & Vermande, M. M. (2003). Pupils’ delinquency and their social networks. A test of some network assumptions of the ability and inability models of delinquency. The Netherlands’ Journal of Social Sciences, 39, 107–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S. (2006). Family structure transitions and adolescent well-being. Demography, 43(3), 447–461.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bronselaer, J. (2007). Impact op gedragsproblemen bij kinderen. In C. Van Peer (Red.), De impact van een (echt)scheiding op kinderen en ex-partners (pp. 70–97). Brussel: Studiedienst van de Vlaamse Regering.

  • Buehler, C., & Gerard, J. M. (2002). Marital conflict, ineffective parenting, and children’s and adolescents’ maladjustment. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 64, 78–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, L., & Berrington, A. (1999). Socio-demographic predictors of divorce. In J. Simons (Ed.), High divorce rates: The state of the evidence on reasons and remedies. Reviews of evidence on the causes of marital breakdown and the effectiveness of policies and services intended to reduce its incidence. London: Lord Chancellor’s Department.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cookston, J. T. (1999). Parental supervision an family structure: Effects on adolescent problem behaviours. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 32, 107–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, L. A., & Novak, K. B. (2008). Parent–child relations and peer associations as mediators of the family structure substance use relationship. Journal of Family Issues, 29, 155–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demuth, S., & Brown, S. L. (2004). Family structure, family processes, and adolescent delinquency: The significance of parental absence versus parental gender. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 41, 58–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denton, R. E., & Kampfe, C. M. (1994). The relationship between family variables and adolescent substance abuse: A literature review. Adolescence, 29, 475–495.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doherty, W. J., & Needle, R. H. (1991). Psychological adjustment and substance use among adolescents before and after a parental divorce. Child Development, 62, 328–337.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, K. W., Wolchik, S. A., & Dawson-McClure, S. (2002). Development of the stepfamily events profile. Journal of Family Psychology, 16, 128–143.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dronkers, J. (1999). The effects of parental conflicts and divorce on the well-being of pupils in Dutch secondary education. European Sociological Review, 15, 195–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emery, R. E. (1999). Marriage, divorce, and children’s adjustment. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery, R. E. (2006). Divorcing emotions: Children’s pain, parents’ grief, and the result of a randomized trial mediation or litigation 12 years later. Paper presented at the international conference on children and divorce, 24–27 July 2006, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.

  • Fischer, T. (2004). Parental divorce, conflict, and resources: The effects on children’s behaviour problems, socioeconomic attachment, and transitions in the demographic career (p. 216). Nijmegen: ICS Dissertations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, T., & De Graaf, P. M. (2001). Ouderlijke echtscheiding en de levensloop van kinderen; negatieve gevolgen of schijnverbanden. (November 20, 2007, http://spitswww.uvt.nl/web/FSW/tijdschrift/Kalmijn/fischer.pdf).

  • Flewelling, R. L., & Bauman, K. E. (1990). Family structure as a predictor of initial substance use and sexual intercourse in early adolescence. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 171–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fomby, P., & Cherlin, A. J. (2007). Family instability and child well-being. American Sociological Review, 72, 181–204.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, A. K., & Pakiz, B. (1990). The effects of marital disruption on adolescents: Time as dynamic. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 60, 544–555.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1985). Children’s perception of the personal relationship in their social networks. Developmental Psychology, 21, 1016–1024.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganong, L. H., & Coleman, M. (2004). Stepfamily relationships. Development, dynamics, and interventions (p. 270). New York: Kluwer/Plenum.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gelman, A., & Hill, J. (2007). Missing data imputation. In A. Gelman & J. Hill (Eds.), Data analysis using regression and multilevel/hierarchical models (pp. 529–543). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gil, A. G., Vega, W. A., & Biafora, F. (1998). Temporal influences of family structure and family risk factors on drug use initiation in a multiethnic sample of adolescent boys. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 27, 373–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grych, J. H., & Fincham, F. D. (1993). Children’s appraisals of marital conflict: Initial investigations of the cognitive-contextual framework. Child Development, 64, 215–230.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grych, J. H., & Fincham, F. D. (2001). Interparental conflict and child development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, T. L., McLanahan, S., & Thomson, E. (1996). Double jeopardy: Parental conflict and stepfamily outcomes for children. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58, 141–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hay, C. (2003). Family strain, gender and delinquency. Sociological Perspectives, 46, 107–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M., Bridges, M., & Insabella, G. M. (1998). What matters? What does not? Five perspectives on the association between marital transitions and children’s adjustment. American Psychologist, 53, 167–184.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M., & Jodl, K. M. (1994). Stepfamilies as settings for child development. In A. Booth & J. Dunn (Eds.), Stepfamilies: Who benefits? Who does not? (pp. 55–79). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, J. P. (2002). The community context of family structure and adolescent drug use. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 63, 314–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, J. P., & Johnson, R. A. (1998). A national portrait of family structure and adolescent drug use. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 633–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, J. E., & Zunguze, S. T. (1998). The relationship of family structure to adolescent drug use, peer affiliation, and perception of peer acceptance of drug use. Adolescence, 33, 811–822.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J. B. (2000). Children’s adjustment in conflicted marriage and divorce: A decade review of research. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 963–973.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kierkus, C. A., & Baer, D. (2002). A social control explanation of the relationship between family structure and delinquent behaviour. Canadian Journal of Criminology, 44, 425–458.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, V. (2006). The antecedents and consequences of adolescents’ relationships with stepfathers and nonresident fathers. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68, 910–928.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnakumar, A., & Buehler, C. (2000). Interparental conflict and parenting behaviours: A meta-analytic review. Family Relations, 49, 25–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kristjansson, A. L., Sigfusdottir, I. D., Allegrante, J. P., & Helgason, A. R. (2009). Parental divorce and adolescent cigarette smoking and alcohol use: Assessing the importance of family conflict. Acta Paediatrica, 98, 537–542.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kurdek, L. A. (1994). Remarriages and stepfamilies are not inherently problematic. In A. Booth & J. Dunn (Eds.), Stepfamilies: Who benefits? Who does not? (pp. 37–44). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, R. W., & Gillman, S. (1999). Transmission of emotions in the daily interactions of single-mother families. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 21–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leon, K. (2003). Risk and protective factors in young children’s adjustment to parental divorce: A review of the research. Family Relations, 52, 258–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lodewijckx, E. (2005). Kinderen en scheiding bij hun ouders in het Vlaamse Gewest: Een analyse op basis van rijksregistergegevens. Brussel: Centrum voor Bevolkings-en Gezinsstudie (October 17, 2007, http://publicaties.vlaanderen.be/docfolder/2223/CBGS_werkdocument_2005_7.pdf).

  • Lombaert, G. (2005). Onderzoeksrapport: Risico- en protectieve factoren in verband met middelengebruik: Onderzoek bij 14- tot 18-jarige scholieren in de provincies West-Vlaanderen. Oost-Vlaanderen en Zeeland. Gent: De Sleutel. Dienst wetenschappelijk onderzoek.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, D. R., & Cherlin, A. J. (1995). The divorce process and young children’s well-being: A prospective analysis. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 800–812.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Needle, R. H., Su, S. S., & Doherty, W. J. (1990). Divorce, remarriage, and adolescent substance use: A prospective longitudinal study. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 157–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pett, M., Wampold, B. E., Turner, C. W., & Vaughan-Cole, B. (1999). Paths of influence of divorce on preschool children’s psychosocial adjustment. Journal of Family Psychology, 13, 145–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pong, S. L., & Ju, D.-B. (2000). The effects of change in family structure and income on dropping out of middle and high school. Journal of Family Issues, 21, 147–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc. (2002–2003). SAS version 9.1. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.

  • Seltzer, J. (1994). Consequences of marital dissolution for children. Annual Review of Sociology, 20, 235–266.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sodermans, A., Vanassche, S., & Matthijs, K. (2011). Gedeelde kinderen en plusouders: De verblijfsregeling en de gezinssituatie na scheiding. In D. Mortelmans, I. Pasteels, P. Bracke, K. Matthijs, J. Van Bavel, & C. Van Peer (Eds.), Scheiding in Vlaanderen (pp. 135–151). Leuven: Acco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spruijt, E. (2007). Scheidingskinderen. Overzicht van recent sociaal-wetenschappelijk onderzoek naar de gevolgen van ouderlijke scheiding voor kinderen en jongeren. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij SWP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, Y. (2001). Family environment and adolescents’ well-being before and after marital disruption: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 63, 697–713.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney, M. M. (2007). Stepfather families and the emotional well-being of adolescents. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 48, 33–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Peer, C., & Carrette, V. (2007). Van theoretische en empirische diversiteit naar een onderzoeksmodel. In C. Van Peer (Red.), De impact van een (echt)scheiding op kinderen en ex-partners (pp. 13–36). Brussel: Studiedienst van de Vlaamse Regering.

  • Vanassche, S., Sodermans, A. K., Dekeyser, G., & Matthijs, K. (2012). Methodologische documenten Leuvens Adolescenten- en Gezinnenonderzoek. Versie 2.0. Onderzoeksdomein Gezin en Bevolking/Leuven: Centrum voor Sociologisch Onderzoek (CeSO)/K.U.Leuven.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanassche, S., Sodermans, A. K., & Matthijs, K. (2011). Het Leuvens Adolescenten en Gezinnen Onderzoek 2009–2010. Onderzoeksrapport. Onderzoeksdomein Gezin en Bevolking: Onderzoeksverslag Centrum voor Sociologisch Onderzoek (CeSO).

    Google Scholar 

  • Videon, T. M. (2002). The effects of parent-adolescent relationships and parental separation on adolescent well-being. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 489–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, L. E., & Rankin, J. R. (1991). Family and delinquency: A meta-analysis of the impact of broken homes. Social Problems, 38, 71–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside, M. F., & Becker, B. J. (2000). Parental factors and the young child’s postdivorce adjustment: A meta-analysis with implications for parenting arrangements. Journal of Family Psychology, 14, 5–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WHO ASSIST Working Group. (2002). The alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST): Development, reliability and feasibility. Addiction, 97(9), 1183–1194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willets, M. C., & Maroules, N. G. (2004). Does remarriage matter? The well-being of adolescents living with cohabiting versus remarried mothers. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 41, 115–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Sofie Vanassche, An Katrien Sodermans & Koen Matthijs

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA

    Gray Swicegood

Authors
  1. Sofie Vanassche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. An Katrien Sodermans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Koen Matthijs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gray Swicegood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sofie Vanassche.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vanassche, S., Sodermans, A.K., Matthijs, K. et al. The Effects of Family Type, Family Relationships and Parental Role Models on Delinquency and Alcohol Use Among Flemish Adolescents. J Child Fam Stud 23, 128–143 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9699-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-012-9699-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation