In search of a mechanism

Mediating the perceived parental support–delinquency relationship with child empathy

Bibliographic Data

ID21511409
AuthorsGlenn D Walters (0000-0002-7219-1542, Kutztown University, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume51
Issue3
Pages336-352
Publication date2022-07-03
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Moral Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-7240 • E-ISSN: 1465-3877
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057240.2021.1872511
OpenAlexW3130008501
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited24

The purpose of this study was to determine whether empathy is capable of mediating the relationship between perceived parental support and juvenile delinquency. This hypothesis was tested in a path analysis of 3,865 (51% male) Australian schoolchildren (mean age = 12.4 years at first wave) using three waves of data with two years between each wave. The dependent variable (juvenile delinquency) was regressed onto cross-lagged independent and mediating latent variables (perceived parental support and empathy). As predicted, the pathway running from perceived parental support to empathy to delinquency was significant, the pathway running from empathy to perceived parental support to delinquency was nonsignificant, and the difference between the two pathways was significant. These findings indicate that parental support, as perceived and reported by the child, is instrumental in promoting empathy, which, in turn, may protect the youth against future delinquency

Developmental psychology · Empathy · Juvenile delinquency · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Early Childhood Education and Development · Psychology · Social Psychology

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