Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs
Published on: October 13, 2017
A meta-analysis of attachment to parents and delinquency
Machteld Hoeve1, Geert Jan J M Stams, Claudia E van der Put
1Research Institute Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.hoeve@uva.nl
Abstract:
To investigate the link between attachment to parents and delinquency, and the potential moderating effects of age and sex, 74 published and unpublished manuscripts (N = 55,537 participants) were subjected to a multilevel meta-analysis. A mean small to moderate effect size was found (r = 0.18). Poor attachment to parents was significantly linked to delinquency in boys and girls. Stronger effect sizes were found for attachment to mothers than attachment to fathers. In addition, stronger effect sizes were found if the child and the parent had the same sex compared to cross-sex pairs of children and parents. Age of the participants moderated the link between attachment and delinquency: larger effect sizes were found in younger than in older participants. It can be concluded that attachment is associated with juvenile delinquency. Attachment could therefore be a target for intervention to reduce or prevent future delinquent behavior in juveniles.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Attachment
Attachment Styles
Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...

