PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Sandy Kirkner

MA-Research
May 1997

Effects of Congruent/Incongruent Parenting Practices During Adolescence
on Delinquency and Young Adult Acceptance of Parental Values

    This study examined the association between nine different congruent and incongruent parenting patterns with teenage delinquency and young adult acceptance of parental values.  Parental rejection alone was also examined.  Demographic information, parenting style for mothers and fathers, delinquent behaviors, and acceptance of parental values were examined by administering five questionnaires to 241 undergraduate students at a large university.
    Results indicated that the hypothesis that congruent parenting would result in lower delinquency scores and higher acceptance of parental value scores than incongruent parenting was too general.  Instead, the results indicated that delinquency rates and acceptance of parental values varied depending on which type of congruent or incongruent parenting was practiced in the home.  Results confirmed the hypothesis that parental rejection did have a significant effect on delinquency and value scores.  The results were discussed with respect to past literature and new research implications.

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