The purpose of this study is to test empirically on causes of Self-Control by familial factors. According to Self-Control theory, family size, single parent family, parental criminality, child-rearing influence self-control. We tries to review the theoretical issues on the causes of self-control, and to analyzes whether familial factors affect the development of self-control in the child.
The data that we have analysed here were obtained from a self-reported survey conducted in Seoul in July, 2008. The sample consists of a total of 2,056 elementary/middle/high school students aged between 10 and 18. In this study, parental child rearing is conceptualized as having four components; attachment, supervision, and punishment. Children's self-control is measured by 6-items reflecting the tendencies of cognitive and behavioral aspects such as impulsivity, simple tasks, risk seeking, physical activity, self-centered, and temper.
Major findings of our analyses are as follows. Family's socioeconomic factors has positively related to child's self-control, but when sex and age, and family factor is controlled, indirect effect through child rearing, such as attachment and supervision. Parents with low self-control has directly/indirectly affected to children's low self-control. Parental child rearing such as attachment, supervision, and punishment has an directly positive effect on children's self-control. These findings reported in this paper has supported the Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control theory.
And we wish this study to contribute to the understand and explanation of the relationship between self-control and victimization. From our study, it is implied that future research could be develop a more considerable model on the victimization in our society and to elaborate the measures on the major concepts and analysis methods.