Relationship between Family Functioning and Attitude towards Delinquency in Adolescents in Babol County

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between family functioning and attitude towards delinquency in adolescents. Methodology: The research method was correlational. The statistical population of the study included all high school students in Babol in the academic year of 2016-2017. Among them, 689 people (334 boys and 355 girls) were selected by cluster sampling method. The research tool was Fazli’s questionnaire for attitude towards delinquency and McMaster family functioning scale. The results of Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between family functioning and its dimensions including problem solving, roles, communication, emotional attachment, emotional association, control, and attitude towards delinquency. Findings: The results of stepwise multivariate regression indicated that among the components of family functioning, only the component of roles explained the 0.03 of the variance of attitude towards delinquency. Discussion: Based on the results of this research, it is suggested that in schools, family education programs should have emphasized the family psychological empowerment and promotion of family functioning. Family counselors should also work on counseling sessions and work with families to improve family functioning, in particular, component of roles.