Relationship between Family Involvement and Delinquent Behaviors among High School Students: Empathy as Mediator

In the rapidly changing social environment, the prevalence of adolescent delinquent behaviors (DB), like rule-breaking, dishonesty, aggression, and internet misuse, have increased steadily in recent years, causing large concerns for educators and policymakers. Family involvement (FI) is a crucial factor in shaping adolescent delinquent behaviors, while empathy (EM) essential in this process. However, the mediating role of EM in the relationship between family involvement and delinquent behaviors among high school students has been less explored. This study was conducted among 500 high school students in Xinzhou City, China, using structured questionnaires and the data was analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicate that there is a significant negative relationship between FI and DB (β=-.602, n=500, p<.001) and between EM and DB (β=-.494, n=500, p<.001), as well as a significant positive relationship between FI and EM (β=.443, n=500, p<.001). Additionally, EM partially mediates the relationship between FI and DB. These findings emphasize the importance of family-based interventions and EM development in reducing adolescent delinquency. Future research should explore these dynamics through longitudinal and cross-cultural studies to further validate and generalize the findings.