Prevention through family and parenting programmes.

No single topic has received more attention in recent political debate about antisocial behaviour and its prevention than the role of families. Public opinion in Britain, as measured in surveys, has scarcely faltered in asserting the prime responsibility of parents for offspring who turn to crime, drugs, and other misconduct. More recently, policy makers have focused their attention on the part that parenting may play in making it more or less likely that children will exhibit problem behaviour in adolescence and as adults (Straw and Anderson, 1996; Home Office, 1997). In the words of a government consultation paper: Children who grow up in stable, successful families are less likely to become involved in offending. Helping parents to exercise effective care and supervision of their young children can achieve long-term benefits by reducing the risk that children will become involved in delinquent or offending behaviour. While in tune with popular sentiment, this interest is also an acknowledgement of research messages that not only identify parental style as part of the problem, but also view parenting education and family support as among the more promising potential contributors to a solution. Longitudinal and other studies in Britain, the United States, and other western nations have consistently placed family and parenting variables among the most significant risk factors for childhood and adolescent antisocial behaviour as the precursor of adult antisocial behaviour (Robins, 1978; Farrington, 1995a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]