Parental Monitoring and Juvenile Deviant Behavior: A Field Study of Previously Convicted Youth in Tipaza, Algeria

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between parental monitoring and juvenile deviant behavior among previously convicted youth in Tipaza, Algeria. A quantitative field study was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to a purposive sample of 46 respondents. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and Chi-square tests, were employed to assess the association between the study variables.

The findings reveal a positive association between low levels of parental monitoring and increased deviant behavior among youth. Specifically, weakened parental supervision appears to be linked to higher engagement in risky and socially non-conforming behaviors. However, the correlation coefficient (r=0.30) suggests a moderate association, indicating that parental monitoring accounts for only a limited portion of the variance in deviant behavior.

This study underscores the importance of family-based social control mechanisms in preventing juvenile delinquency, while also acknowledging the contributing roles of peer influence and broader socio-environmental factors. The results are interpreted within the theoretical frameworks of social control theory and social learning theory.