NCJ Number
49359
Journal
Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1975) Pages: 384-395
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 25 VARIABLES AND THE EXTENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN 39 SUBDIVISIONS OF METROPOLITAN SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT TWO MAJOR FACTORS ACCOUNT FOR 51 PERCENT AND 32 PERCENT OF THE VARIANCE IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AMONG THE SUBDIVISIONS. FACTOR 1 IS DESIGNATED INDIVIDUAL-SOCIAL-ECONOMIC ALIENATION (BROKEN MARRIAGES, PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS, ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ABUSE, INFANT MORTALITY, IMMIGRANT MINORITIES, UNEMPLOYMENT, FEMALES IN THE WORK FORCE, LOW HOUSE AND CAR OWNERSHIP, LIVING IN APARTMENTS). FACTOR 2 IS DESIGNATED LOW SOCIO-EDUCATIONAL STATUS (LOW EDUCATION, CROWDING IN DWELLINGS, HIGH BIRTH RATE, HIGH PROPORTION OF CHILDREN, MENTAL RETARDATION, PERINATAL MORTALITY, FEMALES NOT WORKING, LIVING IN HOUSES, UNEMPLOYMENT). THE PRESENCE OF THESE FACTORS IN EACH OF THE 39 SUBDIVISIONS IS DETERMINED BY CLUSTERING FACTOR SCORES ON A SCATTERGRAM. IT IS POSTULATED THAT IN AREAS SCORING HIGH ON FACTOR 1, SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY COULD AMELIORATE THE PROBLEM OF DELINQUENCY AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEMS OF INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL PATHOLOGY. FOR AREAS SCORING HIGH ON FACTOR 2, WHERE DELINQUENCY APPEARS TO BE A PRODUCT OF CULTURE RATHER THAN AN EXPRESSION OF SOCIAL PATHOLOGY, IT IS POSTULATED THAT THE APPROACH SHOULD BE BASED ON SOCIAL CONTROLS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, AND THE PROVISION OF SUITABLE OUTLETS FOR THE FRUSTRATIONS OF JUVENILES. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)