LAUSR

ObjectivesThis study tested two putative mechanisms for the perceived parental knowledge‒delinquency relationship using a longitudinal cross-lagged research design.MethodsThe first mechanism tested in this study proposed that a positive parent‒child relationship enhanced parental knowledge, which, in turn, inhibited delinquency. The second mechanism started with parental knowledge, which then led to improved parent‒child affiliation, which, in turn, reduced delinquency. These two pathways were evaluated in 5102 mothers (2631 sons, 2471 daughters) and 3999 fathers (2117 sons, 1882 daughters) of adolescent members of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97).ResultsCausal mediation analysis revealed that both pathways (positive relationship → parental knowledge; parental knowledge → positive relationship) were significant in all four dyads (fathers‒sons, fathers‒daughters, mothers‒sons, and mothers‒daughters).ConclusionsFindings from this study indicate that the relationship between parental knowledge and quality of the parent‒child relationship is bidirectional in its effect on future delinquency.