GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Christopher Kierkus, assistant professor of criminal justice at Grand Valley State University, was interviewed for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) about his research on juvenile delinquency. Kierkus found that the parent-child relationship is directly related to whether a child will engage in delinquent behavior. He said the weaker a child's bond to conventional society, the more prone he or she is to being delinquent.
"My research showed that a strong parental relationship helps keep a child from deviating,"said Kierkus. "There is also a relationship between the type of family a child is raised in and delinquent behavior."
Kierkus said children from broken homes are more apt to engage in delinquent behavior than those from traditional families because parent-child bonds are not as strong in broken homes.
"This doesn't mean single parents can't be successful; it just means they will have a tougher time. They have to work that much harder at establishing stronger bonds with their children," he said.
Kierkus said his study found that familial break up had the same delinquency producing effects on boys and girls, as well as in upper- and lower-class families. His findings were published in the Canadian Journal of Criminology.
For an interview with professor Kierkus contact Grand Valley's News and Information office at 616-331-2221.
