NCJ Number
225574
Journal
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 3-15
Date Published
January 2009
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study applied differential association and social-control theories to juvenile delinquency, using a path analysis model in order to examine relationships among variables related to family, self-image, and behavior.
Abstract
Differential association theory asserts that deviant behavior is learned through interactions with others, i.e., motives, drives, rationalization, and attitudes are formed through social and cultural transmission. Social-control theory states that the delinquent individual has the freedom to commit delinquent acts as the individual’s ties to “conventional order” within society are weakened. Both of these theories emphasize the importance of family cohesion, family stressors, and nonfamilial relationships in the development or prohibition of deviant behavior. The current study found that of the three primary variables of interest (family stressors, family cohesion, and nonfamilial relationships), only family stressors had a direct effect on delinquency. The data also indicate that there are a number of factors, in addition to family stressors, that have an impact on the likelihood of engaging in delinquent acts. Being male was the strongest predictor of delinquency and carried a strong link to associating with delinquent peers. Data for this study were obtained from Delbert Elliott’s longitudinal National Youths Study (NYS) of 1,725 youths in the United States. The youths were 11-17 years old in 1976. From 1976 to 1980, the NYS conducted five annual “waves” of interviews. The dataset for the current study is from Wave 5. Data pertained to demographic variables; family stressors (e.g., divorce, loss of jobs, serious illness, or death in the family); family cohesion; importance of nonfamilial relationships; perceived self-image; peer’s delinquent activity; and delinquency. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 32 references