NCJ Number
102451
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: (August 1986) Pages: 268-294
Date Published
1986
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This study addresses some limitations of previous research on delinquency in Iceland by presenting distributional, correlational, and multivariate data on 17 delinquent acts for an urban sample of 13-16-year-old adolescents in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Abstract
Previous studies of delinquency in Iceland (notably Bjornsson and Jonasson) lack specificity and variety in the type of delinquency activity examined. This study collected data from a sample of eighth and ninth graders in three schools. A random sample of classrooms per grade level was selected from each school. The intention was to select a sample of 100 students per grade level in each school. Twenty-eight classrooms totaling 645 juveniles resulted from the procedure. A total of 578 completed the survey instruments in December 1981. The first instrument was a random response question used to assess the reliability of one of the items on the delinquency checklist. The second instrument was a self-report questionnaire with questions on sociodemographic characteristics, school-related outcomes, activities, peer association variables, and delinquent activity. The subjects appeared to be experimenting with many types of delinquent activity, ranging from cigarette smoking to theft. Less than 20 percent from cigarette smoking to theft. Less than 20 percent engaged in any type of delinquent activity more than once a month. Drug use was the least frequent type of delinquent behavior. Peer group associations and school-related outcomes were important predictors of delinquency. The isolation and cultural homogeneity of Iceland apparently keep delinquency at a low level. 5 tables, 9 notes, and 64 references.