The Effects of Race and Family Attachment on Self-Esteem, Self-Control, and Delinquency (Criminal Justice)

Owens-Sabir examines the effect of race and family on delinquency, self-esteem, and self-control among Native American Indians, African Americans and Whites. African Americans alone exhibit a positive relationship between self-control and self-esteem. An inverse effect between self-esteem and delinquency is not observed. Owens-Sabir further finds a positive relationship between delinquency and self-esteem for African Americans when self-esteem is the dependent variable. Parental supervision has a positive effect on self-esteem. Consequently, the findings support the work of Gottfredson and Hirschi on the importance of social bonds or attachment. In addition, results suggest the feasibility of theoretical integration to explain delinquency as advocated by Akers. Specifically, self-control and social bond theories show a possible linkage based on the findings.