SEM Model of Criminal Behaviour within a Sample of Recidivistic Prisoners

Background: Research concerning the impact of family variables and criminal friends on adolescents has received considerable attention; however there is still only little empirical support to suggest that the same process occurs within adult offender population.

Aims: To investigate the impact of parental attachment, peer rejection, parental control and criminal peer associations on further criminal behaviour.

Method: Two alternative structural equation models of criminal behaviour were specified and empirically tested within a sample of recidivistic prisoners (N=312)

Results: Parental attachment has a significant influence on parental control and relationships with peers, and an indirect impact on associations with criminal friends via parental control. Further investigation suggests a direct influence of parental control on criminal associations and a strong impact of criminal friends on criminal behaviour. The only indirect predictor of criminal behaviour was parental control via criminal friends.

Conclusions: Further implications in relation to theory and previous studies are discussed