Child-parent separation and its risks towards criminality in adulthood : a study on local youths

Abstract

This study focuses on the risks to Criminality for individuals who experienced parental separation within the Maltese scenario. The consequences of parental separation and the route to criminality are explored depending on the child’s gender, the age at the time of separation and also depending on the parent who the child is separated from. To this context, international literature revolving around Travis Hirschi's Social Control Theory and other pertinent subjects such as family and child emotional development are explored. Data through semi-structured interviews was collected from various experts within the local scenario: two social workers, a police officer, a family therapist, and a probation officer. Once data analysis was conducted several risks deriving from parental separation during childhood emerged, such as, unsupportive & disrupted families, problematic peers, trauma, lack of emotional availability, unsafe environment, and the typology of internalising and externalising behaviours for emotional compensation. Whilst acknowledging such findings it is also important to keep in mind that such a small sample is rather limited and requires further exploration in the field of interest.