There is an abundance of research that examines the impact of family structure on
delinquency (Amato & Keith, 1991; Price & Kunz, 2003; Rankin, 1983). The majority of
research finds that youth from broken homes report increased levels of delinquency. For
example, in a longitudinal survey of 411 males living in South London, Juby and Farrington
(2001) found that delinquency rates were higher among 75 boys who were living in nonintact
homes compared to boys living in intact families. Moreover, Price and Kunz (2003) conducted a
meta-analysis involving 72 studies that involved divorce and juvenile delinquency. The results
indicated that children from divorced homes have higher rates of delinquency (status offenses,
crimes against person, felony theft, general delinquency, tobacco and drug use) compared to
children from intact homes, with the exception of alcohol use.
Some have questioned the causal relationship, arguing that there may