This study analyzes the potential relationship between a child’s attachment to their parents and juvenile delinquency. Previous research suggests that a child’s level of attachment to both their mother and father as an effect on their likelihood to engage in all forms of delinquency. Specifically, a low level of parental attachment increases a child’s engagement in total, property, and violent delinquency. To test this hypothesis, I used survey data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, also known as Add Health. It was found that children who have a lower attachment to both parents are more likely to engage in all three kinds of delinquency. Additionally, prior research has found gender, age, race, delinquent peers, and socio-economic states to have an impact on delinquency. These factors were controlled for, and low parental attachment was still found to have an impact on delinquency.
