Age of Male Delinquents When Father Left Home and Recidivism

Numerous studies have supported the conclusion that the absence of father in the home may adversely effect the personality development of the children. As part of a larger study (Kelly & Baer, 1968) concerning the effects of a shortterm program involving severe physical challenge on the subsequent recidivism of male adolescent delinquents, the family constellation was examined. Consistent with expectations, delinquents coming from families where both parents were present had significantly lower recidivism rates (7%) than those from broken homes (33% ). Since the father's absence is most frequently the case in broken homes, the age of the child when the father left the home was then examined. In Table 1 it may be seen that only 12% of the delinquents coming from homes where the father had not left subsequently recidivated, while 39%