NCJ Number
188460
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2001 Pages: 133-143
Date Published
March 2001
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A two-wave panel study of 625 young males ages 16- to 19-years-old in Buffalo, NY, sought to determine whether deviant lifestyle leads to victimization, whether victimization leads to deviant lifestyle, and whether neighborhood influences the relationships between deviance and victimization.
Abstract
The data came from the first two waves of the Buffalo Longitudinal Survey of Young Men, a 5-year panel study that began in 1992. The research specified deviant lifestyle as drinking, drug use, and juvenile delinquency. The study used cross-lagged and synchronous SEQ panel models. The study also conducted a group analysis to determine whether neighborhood affected the relationship between victimization and deviant lifestyle. Results revealed a significant lagged effect and a synchronous effect of deviant lifestyle on victimization. Deviant lifestyles among young males led to being victimized, both around the same time and 18 months later. In contrast, crime victimization had a significant synchronous effect on deviant lifestyles, but no lagged effect. Being victimized led to deviant lifestyle around the same time, but not in the future. Finally, group analyses revealed marginally that deviant lifestyle leads to crime victimization only in low-crime neighborhoods, although this comparison was not statistically significant. Findings regarding the significant lagged effect and significant synchronous effect of deviant lifestyles on crime victimizations were consistent with previous studies that used different analytical strategies. Tables, notes, appended description of measures, and 26 references (Author abstract modified)