Intergenerational transmission of religious beliefs and practices and the reduction of adolescent delinquency in urban Thailand

Aphichat Chamratrithirong, Brenda A. Miller, Hilary F. Byrnes, Orratai Rhucharoenpornpanich, Pamela K. Cupp, Michael J. Rosati, Warunee Fongkaew, Katharine A. Atwood, Michael Todd

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examines the intergenerational transmission of family religion as measured by parent's and adolescent's beliefs and practices in Buddhism, and its relation to delinquent behaviors among early adolescents in Thailand. The data set is from the Thai Family Matters Project 2007, a representative sample of 420 pairs of parents and teens in Bangkok. A structural equation model is employed for the analysis. The intergenerational transmission and the direct and indirect association between parents' and adolescents' beliefs and practices in Buddhism and adolescents' minor and serious delinquent behaviors are revealed to be significant, controlling for secular parental monitoring. Spirituality within the family can play an important role in preventing delinquency among early adolescents. Policies in the areas related to family empowerment and delinquency prevention may need to consider integrating both secular and non-secular program inputs in their implementation design.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)79-89
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Adolescence
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adolescent delinquency
  • Buddhism
  • Family matters
  • Family spirituality
  • Parental monitoring
  • Religious beliefs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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