Family Structure, Power-Control Theory, and Deviance: Extending Power-control Theory to Include Alternate Family Forms*

Research on power-control theory has focused almost exclusively on traditional families and/or single mother families. Using data from a survey conducted on 534 persons, this study examines the effects of including a complex measure of family structure in a power-control model. The measure of family structure used in this study includes intact two parent families, single mother families, single father families, and stepfamilies. The inclusion of a variety of family structures in a power-control model, however, creates a related complication as power-control research traditionally uses a measure of patriarchy that is implicitly tied to family structure. Therefore, this study also suggests a new measure of patriarchy that allows for greater flexibility in developing power-control models. Results from OLS and Ordered Logit models indicate that family structure has an effect on patriarchy and instrumental control and that an attitudinal measure of patriarchy allows for more model and theoretical complexity than structural measures of patriarchy. Finally, this paper addresses the implications of power-control theory and the current findings for public policy designed to reduce deviance.