Examination of a Reciprocal Relationship Between Religiosity and Different Forms of Delinquency Within a Theoretical Model

• NCJ Number: 170484
• Journal: Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1997) Pages: 163-186
• Author(s): B B Benda
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study of 1,093 adolescents from six public high schools in Oklahoma, Maryland, and Arkansas showed property crimes, crimes against persons, and use of alcohol and other drugs were not behavior manifestations of an interrelated constellation or syndrome of juvenile delinquency.

Abstract

The study examined drug use, criminal behavior, attachment, peer association, and religiosity. Factor analysis indicated alcohol consumption, other drug use, and criminal behavior were distinct forms of juvenile delinquency. Factor analysis also confirmed meaningful conceptual categories of delinquent behavior used in the literature. Whereas the hypothesized theoretical model explained considerable variation in frequency of alcohol use and criminal behavior (22 percent and 24 percent, respectively), it did not account for much variance in drug use (6 percent). Reciprocal relationships were observed between religiosity and drug use and between religiosity and crime, but only the feedback effect of religiosity on alcohol use was significant. Findings suggest the need for additional research to examine reciprocal relationships and the relationship between alcohol use and religiosity. 100 references, 2 notes, 5 tables, and 1 figure