Computer-Specific Parental Management and Online Deviance across Gender in South Korea: A Test of Self-Control Theory

Deviant behaviors on the Internet by adolescents have increased due to increased opportunity for using online technology. Based on Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control theory, parental management influences online deviance by mediating low self-control. This study used data collected by the Korea Institute of Criminology in 2009. The results strongly supported the self-control theory's propositions that parental management increased children's self-control, and their self-control decreased online deviance. Thus, it is important to control online deviance by appropriate parenting concerning computer use. However, this study also found different results across gender.