Significance of a Family during Adolescent Age - Research Proposal Example

Significance of a Family during Adolescent Age Introduction There is a correlation between parent-child relationship and adolescent gang involvement. Dysfunctional families are associated with the growth of the youth gangs and violence. The social environment in the family plays the most influential role for an adolescent to join a criminal gang. Differential association theory indicates that a young person can join gangs through interactions with influential and criminal peers. Research suggests that dysfunctional families lack the incentives to counter the advances made by the antisocial groups in their quest to win more members. Influence from peers has caused youths to join gangs that are involved with murder, child kidnapping, robbery, and even bombing. When free interaction is promoted at the family level, adolescents are likely to become responsible members of the society. Dysfunctional families are not likely to offer psychological assistance to the youths suffering from rejection and past abuse. A research in the United States indicated that rejection and the need for self identity easily drives young people into gangs. Statistics indicate that 70 percent of juveniles are unable to get basic needs from their families (Beazley, 2000). This causes them to seek illegal ways or meeting their basic needs. The same research shows that 63 percent of adolescent’s residential areas are prone to crimes. The role of the family in controlling the negative influence of the environments is crucial. Further research should be conducted in on the implications of each dysfunctional issue within the family unit. Family conflict has a connection to youth criminality. Literature review Parenting practices and the wellbeing of the mothers affect the stability and the value-systems of the children. Children who have a good relationship with the parents are likely to shun violence and gang involvement (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002. The anti-social behavior of adolescents can be addressed through responsible parenting. Studies show that parents who suffered childhood abuse have challenges raising healthy families. Gang theorists perceive gang delinquency to be a result of social disorganizations especially in the slum area (Beazley, 2000). The chaos and unpredictability that characterize dysfunctional families can leave adolescents deficient in their sense of trust and healthy development (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002). Family experiences can inspire desperation or hope to young adults and adolescents. Studies indicate that when families become dysfunctional, confusion and identity crisis follow. This leads to isolation. In additions, research shows that gangs capitalize on these challenges to initiate the youth into criminal gangs (France, 1998). Deficient parents hurt their children through omission. The deficiency can arise from mental illness or physical disability that creates parental inadequacy. Controlling parents fail to allow then to take up social responsibilities in the appropriate stages. This creates a social vacuum that can result in teen gang engagement. Studies show that children from controlling parents are extremely resentful (France, 1998). In some instances, violent behavior has been associated with absentee parenting. Controlling parents cause their children to be dependent and powerless (Beazley, 2000). This becomes a major factor that can push them to seek solace in the wrong places like in the criminal gangs. Adolescence gangs can also arise from the influence of drugs in a family set up. Alcoholic parents are unpredictable. This is compounded by the fact that youth gangs are actively involved in street-level drug trafficking (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002). Studies show that adolescents from alcoholic parents tend to abuse drugs. Youth gang engagement is also triggered by frustration and anger that arises from parental insensitivity. Most of the teens that join gangs are vulnerable to abuse. According to psychological organizations, the youths from dysfunctional families tend to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Growing in neighborhoods heavily invested by gang exposes the youth to gang activities (Lucas, 1998). Dysfunctional families are blamed for minimized adult supervision and failure to offer leadership. The dynamics of youthful involvement in criminal gangs has been largely associated with construction of identity destroyed in dysfunctional families (Beazley, 2000). Previous researches have failed to capture the link between dysfunctional families and involvement of the youths in gangs. The moral values that support the youth are said to stem from the family institution. The adolescents have been driven to violence through instilling of fear that leads to spatial exclusion by some family members. According to previous researches, deviant behaviors, drug abuse, alcohol and truancy are indicators of adolescent violence and criminal behaviors. Social influences are implemented through the family institutions. The experiences of parents who are victims of adolescent violence indicate they are likely to propagate the same abuses (Beazley, 2000). Dysfunctional families have a shaky value system. Sociological perspectives indicate that parental abuse can be one of the leading sources of adolescent involvement in gangs (Lucas, 1998). According to Lucas (1998), psychological models tend to offer analytical framework. This is attributed to wider societal influences are significant in explaining the value system of the adolescents who plan to get involved in gangs. Studies show that theoretical tools that are deployed to investigate the reasons why young people join criminal gangs. These tools have the capacity to assess the impact of dysfunctional families among violent adolescents and their families (Beazley, 2000). Family therapy indicates that parental abuse is a strong indicator for family breakdown. Consequently, family breakdown is known to cause juvenile delinquency and adolescent engagement in gangs. Juvenile delinquency and involvement in gangs is caused by cultural and psychological factors which are nurtured through family controls and relationships (Lucas, 1998). Therefore, when a family becomes dysfunctional the values of the youths are neglected by the entire society. At the same time, juveniles feel pressured and frustrated become of the family imbalances and neglect. This leads the adolescents to antisocial behaviors like truancy and involvement in gangs (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002). The cultural conflicts in the globalised society are enhanced by family neglect and absenteeism (Beazley, 2000). This causes adolescents to get involved in criminal activities which include getting enrolled in gangs. According to research, the conditions of the family and control over children can cause juveniles to get involved in criminal activities. However, further research needs to be carried out to establish the connection between family dysfunction and the criminal activities. Statistics show that 57 percent of the families apply controls that drive adolescents into criminal gangs. This process is gradual. The anti-social behavior affects adolescents in both the families of the rich and poor (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002). Research shows that adolescents from rich families are likely to get involved in gangs because of easy and uncontrolled access to excessive wealth. Family dysfunction can also be defined as a systemic failure that leads s to failure to give adolescents timely advice (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002). A case study in developing countries indicated that poor families suffer from frequent quarrels which have negative effects in the minds of the poor adolescents. Poverty in the family causes the youth to spend most of their time outside the family in search of relieve from economic and social challenges in the family (France, 1998). This leads them to criminal activities gradually. At the same time, functional families should provide basic needs and education to the adolescents as a way of controlling negative impacts from society. Dysfunctional families tend to be insensitive concerning the needs of the children because of poor interactions (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002). Family control is one of the most important factors for proper child socialization. Control by family members has direct impact to the behavior of the adolescents in the society (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002). With technological advancement, the role of parenting is increasingly facing many challenges. Dysfunctional families are accused of exposing juveniles to adult content and violent programs (France, 1998). According to research, 30 percent of the juveniles from dysfunctional families watch the worst movies, multiple times. Financial support from families is important in curbing youth engagement with gangs. Harsh control from family is harmful to the growth of teenagers (France, 1998). At the same time, much less control is equally harmful to youths in that it gives unhealthy exposure to insecurity. Children are unable to develop mentally when unfriendly controls are applied (France, 1998). According to research, antisocial behavior is easily promoted through exaggerated control. Negative impacts of technology and lack of controls has been accused of promoting juvenile delinquency. Anti-social behavior is perpetrated through proper and functional family institutions. Criminal behavior among the youths leads to truancy, bullying and destruction of property (Beazley, 2000). The proposed research seeks to expose the details of the relationship between family breakdown and criminal behavior among a truth. The social state of the family institution has come under intense social pressure as the culture continues to change across the world (France, 1998). Data about the role of the family in the behavior of the youths indicate that poverty and search for resources can lead to compromise of family values in the poor societies (Clauss-Ehlers & Levi, 2002). A case study in Bangladesh indicates that family relationships affect the social behavior of the young people. Dysfunctional family institutions have significantly blamed on the rural to urban migration (Beazley, 2000). The migration is said to have resulted to disintegration of the family unit and has exposed adolescents to criminal gangs operations. Previous researches fail to capture the clear link between family dysfunction and role of adolescents in criminal gangs. Further research can positively identify the role of the family institution in the decisions of the young people. Functional families have minimal cases of youths joining gangs or antisocial behavior. Addressing the correlation between family control, family condition and cultural relationships can positively control the connection with joining gangs. Research question Are dysfunctional families an important factor when it comes to adolescent gang involvement and juvenile delinquency? Significance Juvenile delinquency and gang involvement have a correlation with the effectiveness of the family institution. Previous researches have not been able to address this correlation because of the changing societal dynamics and technological changes that have impacted the modern family institution. There is need to find out how dysfunctional families influence adolescents to join gangs in the contemporary society. The research is going to propose possible legal adjustments that are address this problem comprehensively. The purpose of this research is to establish the importance of dysfunctional families in dealing with adolescent gang involvement. In answering the question, the research shall fill the gaps left by the previous researches. The research shall indentify the major causes of parent-children relationship and its impact of criminality. The finding shall give insight to social workers and juvenile centers personnel. Methodology When researching in the field of dysfunctional families and adolescent engagement in gangs, the best approach, is to use the quantitative methods of research. Primary and secondary sources shall be used. The nature of the research requires details. It needs studies to be done among both chief executive officers and firm shareholders to establish personal familiarity and respect with regard to performance indicators and measures. The qualitative and quantitative research method is one of the most exploited methods of research by other writers. It also is known are triangular or mixed method of research. One of the biggest merits of the triangular method is that the data collected from one method complements the data collected in the other method. This means that comprehensive opinions are obtained by the research for quality analysis. This shall involve surveying through questionnaires and interviewing the members of the organizational community in some families and youths who have experiences with criminal gangs. This shall also involve investigating the causes of family breakdown and how they relate to adolescent behavior initiatives, which were considered to be a reasonable in influence in the societal values. The research shall take samples are use them in a general manner. The probability of family trends to be spread out in an even way is real and possible. Therefore, a representative sample shall be used to indicate the general trend in dysfunctional families and adolescent gang involvement. Questionnaires: The aim shall be to get a wide range of opinions. The research shall administration of surveys through self-administered questionnaire. Questionnaires are designed, to collect fundamental factors about dysfunctional families and juvenile behavior dynamics. This means that the questionnaires were used in the selected societal institutions. Some of the questions in the questionnaire require the parents or guardians and other shareholders in the organizational fraternity to state what affects their performance while dealing with adolescent behaviors and gangs. This includes questions into the mode of determining parental performance. Up to 10 questionnaires shall be administered. The questionnaires shall establish the parent-child relationship barriers in the roles of family institution in controlling juvenile delinquency. The questionnaires shall have an open section where the parents and other shareholders discuss their experiences with adolescents. The research shall also focus on family-juveniles relationships. The questionnaires shall also require the respondents to state their biggest expectation from the family institution at large. The research will assess and come up with the real impact of the parental guidance and adolescent behavior. Based on the literature review, a self constructed five –item structured questionnaire is imperative. The questionnaire shall be prepared to use 5- point Likert scale. Group interviews will be conducted among the shareholders in these social institutions. Shareholders representatives like child care personnel are expected to express a broad range of opinions in the focus groups on the key issues, in discussion. The use of the structured questionnaire is inspired by cost effectiveness and relative convenience of the method. The questionnaire research method was also known to provide greater cover and anonymity than other research methods. Qualitative and quantitative methods shall increase the quality of data and findings. Respondents are required to show to what measure or extent they agreed with the statements in the scale. The responses will be expected to range from: agreeing strongly, disagreeing strongly. The respondents are expected to respond to items such as; internal aspects of dysfunctional families and how they escalate juvenile delinquency in the society. This was followed by; inadequate skills by the parents can hinder youth profitability and involvement with gangs. The last section shall deal with the demographic factors and information of the family and youth behavior. The questionnaire will be subjected to a pilot test to increase its reliability and appropriateness. Interviews: Up to 10 family experts shall be interviewed using a method, known as the structured interview method. The participants were assured that the information would be treated with confidence. Each interview last for 30 minutes. Data collection and analysis Descriptive statistics shall be used to analyze the collected data. Data collection may involve travelling to the social premises and spending some time to interview and fill the questionnaires. This shall also involve content analysis. This is because the validity and applicability of data in qualitative research depends on how carefully the instruments have been constructed. This helps in ensuring that what is supposed to be measured by the instruments is precisely measured and obtained. The data from the family institutions and juveniles shall be analyzed using the SPSS software to analyze the social impact of youth behaviors and performance of the family units. Samples shall be evenly spread, in these institutions. This shall ensure that there is no bias in opinions. I shall be defining dysfunctional families as those that are insensitive to offering basis needs for physical and emotional wellbeing of the adolescents. Confidentiality and Integrity of the research: The integrity of the research shall depend on both the analytical and ethical adequacy. Data shall be collected only with permission from authorities in all the institutions, where necessary. This means that there shall be voluntary participation from the respondents, data protection, the purpose of the research shall be made clear and that the participants shall be assured of an opportunity to see and read that research report. The participants shall be given unique codes to conceal their identity. Validity Validity is the degree of accuracy and reliability of the process of research and data. It entails defining the data and measures of collecting data. Constructive, predictive and content validity shall be enforced in the process of data collection. The assessment of content between individual concept and items shall define the dependability of this standard research. The content validity shall be consistent with literature review and the use of instruments used in previous researches. Reliability indicates how the data was collected and measured. This differs with validity. It is the degree to which a variable or variables is consistent with the intended measure. Time scale Preliminary preparations of the research shall take one week. This shall involve preparing the research team and giving the team data collection skills. The research activity shall take one month. This shall involve giving the questionnaire and conducting interviews with the targeted number of respondents. Data collection shall take two weeks Data analysis shall take 1 week In total, the entire project shall take 2 months Bibliography Beazley, H. (2000) Street boys in Yogyakarta: social and spatial exclusion in the public spaces of the city, in: G. Bridge and S. Watson (eds) A Companion to the City, London: Blackwell, 472 – 488 Clauss-Ehlers, C.S. and Lopez , L. (2002) Violence and community, terms in conflict: an ecological approach to resilience’,Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 11(4), 265 –278 France, A. (1998) ‘Why should we care?’ Young people, citizenship and questions of social responsibility,Journal of Youth Studies, 1(1), 97– 111 Lucas, T. (1998) Youth gangs and moral panics in Santa Cruz California, in: T. Skelton and G. Valentine (eds) Cool Places: Geographies of Youth Cultures, London: Routledge, 145 – 160. Read More