TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2011//
TI  - Parental Status and Punitiveness: Moderating Effects of Gender and Concern About Crime
JO  - Crime and delinquency
A1  - Welch, Kelly
SP  - 878
EP  - 906
VL  - 57
IS  - 6
N2  - Previously identified predictors of public punitiveness include attitudinal, experiential, background, and demographic characteristics. Given the influence of parenthood on certain attitudes and beliefs, it may also affect how strongly individuals endorse harsh punishment for criminals. Few studies have explored how parenthood influences general policy preferences or support for criminal justice measures specifically, and findings have been mixed. The author estimated linear ordinary least squares regression equations, using national random telephone survey data, to test for direct effects of parenthood on measures of punitive attitudes toward juveniles and adults and overall. Two- and three-way interactions with gender and concern about crime were also estimated, and although the additive effects of parenthood on punitiveness were significant only for attitudes toward adult offenders, gender and concern about crime moderated its effects on punitive policy support, with fathers and parents for whom crime was less salient being more punitive. These findings suggest that research testing only linear influences may overlook more complex relationships.<p /> 
LA  - 
SN  - 0011-1287
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0011128708330101
ID  - ref1
ER  -