Family cohesiveness and delinquency : a study of forty-nine juvenile delinquents from the Halifax Regional Office, Department of Public Welfare, active as of November 1965

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between family cohesiveness and the incidence of delinquency. It is an individual thesis written as one part of a group study, of active files, of the delinquents at the Halifax Regional Office of the Department of Public Welfare, undertaken by ten members of the 1966 class of the Maritime School of Social Work. The records of 49 delinquents at the Halifax Regional Office of the Department of Public Welfare, active as of November 1965, were the source of data. A common schedule was used to collect pertinent information. Data relevant to this individual thesis were then extracted and statistical test of significance (chi-square) carried out. It was found that the family background of recidivists revealed a significantly less degree of reciprocal parental-filial affection and a higher rate of broken homes and family disruption than the family background of non-recidivists. It was concluded that, in order to be of any service in dealing with delinquent behavior, the social worker must know and understand the delinquent in relation to his family.