A typology of family social environments for institutionalized juvenile delinquents: Implications for research and treatment.

A variety of studies have examined family variables in relation to juvenile delinquency. In order to measure the social environmental characteristics of families of adjudicated delinquents, a sample of 411 adolescent offenders was obtained, consisting of all youths aged 12-16 committed over a 16-month period of time. Information was obtained on the Family Environment Scale (FES), an instrument which measures perceptions of nuclear family environments. Data was also obtained on a variety of measures of personality, social, behavioral, and intellectual skills. Cluster analytic procedures on the FES data were used to develop an empirical typology of family environments. Several types were identified, and analysis of variance was utilized to determine if the other measures could describe the delinquents falling into the various types. Some clear-cut descriptors emerged, with implications for research and treatment.