Caregivers’ Mental Illness and Adolescent Delinquency Among African Americans in Chicago’s Southside: Exploring Potential Protective Factors

The aim of the present study is to identify protective factors that buffer the effect of caregiver mental illness on adolescent delinquency. Specifically, we test whether (a) caregiver mental illness will be associated with adolescent’s delinquent behavior; (b) community affiliations will moderate the relationship between caregiver mental illness and adolescent’s delinquent behavior; (c) teacher support will moderate the relationship between caregiver mental illness and adolescent’s delinquent behavior, and (d) religious affiliation will moderate the relationship between caregiver mental illness and adolescent delinquent behavior. The study sample consisted of 509 African American adolescents in Chicago’s Southside, 12 to 17 years of age, who reported delinquent behaviors. Analyses for the study included descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and hierarchical multivariate regression. The study found a positive association between caregiver mental illness and adolescents’ delinquent behavior. Community affiliation was also positively associated, while teacher support was negatively associated with delinquent behaviors. The association between caregiver’s mental illness and adolescent delinquency was buffered by teacher support. Teacher support is an important protective factor that is impactful for adolescents in low-resourced and dangerous communities.