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.

本研究的目的是确定可以缓冲照顾者精神疾病对青少年犯罪的影响的保护因素。具体而言，我们测试是否 (a) 看护者的精神疾病与青少年的违法行为有关；(b) 社区归属将缓和照顾者精神疾病与青少年犯罪行为之间的关系；(c) 教师支持将缓和照顾者精神疾病与青少年犯罪行为之间的关系，以及 (d) 宗教信仰将缓和照顾者精神疾病与青少年犯罪行为之间的关系。研究样本包括芝加哥南区的 509 名非裔美国青少年，年龄在 12 至 17 岁之间，他们报告有违法行为。研究分析包括描述性统计、双变量相关性和分层多元回归。该研究发现看护者的精神疾病与青少年的犯罪行为之间存在正相关。社区归属感也呈正相关，而教师支持与违法行为呈负相关。看护者的精神疾病与青少年犯罪之间的关联得到教师支持的缓冲。教师支持是一个重要的保护因素，对资源匮乏和危险社区的青少年有影响。看护者的精神疾病与青少年犯罪之间的关联得到教师支持的缓冲。教师支持是一个重要的保护因素，对资源匮乏和危险社区的青少年有影响。看护者的精神疾病与青少年犯罪之间的关联得到教师支持的缓冲。教师支持是一个重要的保护因素，对资源匮乏和危险社区的青少年有影响。