PARENTAL ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION AS DETERMINANTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES IN MALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

Abstract

The research aimed to investigate the impact of parental acceptance and rejection on psychological difficulties in juvenile delinquents. A sample of 100 juvenile delinquents aged 13-17 years was included. Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Malik, 2011) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) were used. The results of simple linear and multiple regression analysis indicate that all three types of paternal rejection (i.e. hostility/ aggression, indifference/ neglect, and undifferentiated rejection) and also the paternal acceptance significantly predicted psychological difficulties in juveniles. However, of all subtypes of maternal rejection, only indifference/neglect significantly predicted psychological difficulties whereas maternal acceptance failed to predict psychological difficulties in juveniles. Research findings suggest that fathers' expression of rejection and acceptance has a substantial and major impact on their children's emotional and psychological growth.