NCJ Number
95819
Date Published
1983
Length
135 pages
Annotation
An empirical study of the link between juvenile delinquency and juveniles' use of their free time was conducted using interview data gathered from 494 Stockholm youths between the ages of 13 and 19 years.
Abstract
The study hypothesized that (1) criminality influences use of free time (2) use of free time influences criminality, and (3) criminality and free time are influenced by one or more background factors such as home environment or socioeconomic status. Besides interview data, researchers used official data from youth authorities both on an individual and areawide level. A subsample of 287 boys was studied more closely than the general study population, and interviews extended to the boys' parents and teachers during their entire school career. This interview data was supplemented with police information on these interview subjects. Interviews were also held with police from the area studied, school officials, and youth authorities. Study findings, as anticipated, indicated that juveniles' criminality and even their parents' social impairment, had a clear, statistically significant correlation with their overall participation in commercial leisure activities such as going to movies, eating at hamburger joints and pubs, frequenting discotheques, and spending time at amusement arcades. A tie also was found between juveniles' social impairment and frequent visits to the central city at night. While delinquent youth participated more often in commercial activities and activities outside of adult control, nondelinquent youths were more likely to participate in leisure activities organized by the community or socially sanctioned activities. Delinquent youths tended to seek out other delinquent youths or criminally active adults in their leisure time in places such as subway stations, parks or public areas, or in commercial establishments. Tabular data and about 30 references are provided.