Parental Supervision and Control as a Factor of Juvenile Delinquency in Serbia: Results of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study

Ćopić, Sanja and Stevković, Ljiljana (2018) Parental Supervision and Control as a Factor of Juvenile Delinquency in Serbia: Results of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study. In: Pravda po meri deteta - međunarudni naučni tematski skup, 6-7. jun 2018, Palić. Institut za kriminološka i sociološka istraživanja, Beograd, pp. 279-293. ISBN 978-86-80756-10-3

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Abstract

During 2013 and 2014 Serbia took part in the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD3) for the first time. The research was conducted on a sample of 1344 primary (7th and 8th grade) and secondary (all grades) school students in two largest towns – Belgrade and Novi Sad. The data was collected by using a standardised questionnaire. The aim of this paper is to present a part of the research results of the ISRD3 in Serbia related to the scope, structure and correlations between examined forms of delinquent and risk behaviour, and the parental control and supervision as a factor of juvenile delinquency. The findings suggest high prevalence of juvenile delinquency, including substance use, in two towns in Serbia where the research was conducted. Juveniles commit less sever offences, while property offences dominate. Violent offences are less frequent, and they mainly refer to group fight and animal cruelty. Boys are more likely than girls to commit offences, while offences committed by boys are more sever and include violence. Additionally, the older respondets are the more they act deliquently. Most of juveniles from the sample consumed alcohol, while almost one forth abused drugs sometimes in their life. The findings show high correlation between all examined forms of delinquent behaviour, including substance use. Parental knowledge, parental supervision and child disclosure, as three dimensions of parental control and supervision, negatively correlate with delinquent and risk behaviour. Additionally, all three dimensions of parental control and supervision negatively predict delinquent and risk behaviour. In general, the lack of parental control and supervision is associated with perpetrating of delinquency and is a predictor of juvenile delinquency. Therefore, it is important to work on developing preventive programs, including programs aimed at strengthening parental competencies and skills and enhancing communication and relationship between parents and their children in order to prevent and suppress juvenile delinquency in Serbia.

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