Quality of Parenting and Juvenile Delinquency

Abstract: The increase in the number of juvenile delinquents in Nigeria especially Benin Metropolis can be dangerous for the future of adolescents. One of the factors causing this as inferred in this study is parents. This study therefore aims to determine the relationship between Quality of Parenting and Juvenile Delinquency. The design of this study was descriptive. Analysis of the study was carried out using the Chi-square test. The number of samples in this study was 123 juvenile delinquents and 5 officials at the Children Correctional Center, Benin City. The study adopted the total number of population as its sample which is 123 juvenile delinquents thus no sample technique was used. While the 5 officials were purposively selected out of 7 officials. The dependent variable was juvenile delinquency. The parameters for measuring Quality of Parenting were parenting styles, parents’-child communication, family structure and parents’ socio-economic status. The two parameters were significantly related to juvenile delinquency especially parenting styles and family structure. In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between Quality of Parenting and Juvenile Delinquency.