Abstract
Anti-social behaviour is a major problem in childhood and beyond. More severe, persistent forms affect 5-10% of children in developed western countries and are linked to future adult crime, drug and alcohol misuse, unemployment, poor physical health, and mental disorders. A major risk factor is parenting style, in particular harsh and inconsistent parenting, which research has shown is associated with child behaviour problems. Other factors that feed into this directly and indirectly include domestic violence, parental drug abuse, maternal depression, family poverty, parents with low levels of education, stressed families and single parent status. This research report presents the findings from a study that examined the relationship between parenting styles and a range of family factors and child anti-social behaviour. The study examined in detail 278 families living in inner city areas who had children at higher risk of poor social and academic outcomes due to anti-social behaviour. The children involved in the study were aged four to seven.