NCJ Number
179997
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 199-223
Date Published
1999
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Some adolescents are attracted to hedonistic activities because of their active sociability and negative school experience; this study examined the effects of these two variables compared with variables from labeling theory and control theory.
Abstract
The data used in this study were drawn from the University of Michigan Survey Research Center's Monitoring the Future for 1993. Each year during the spring, this organization surveys seniors in over 130 public and private high schools throughout the 48 contiguous States, using a multistage sampling procedure. The sample (n=2,772) consists of 48 percent males and 14 percent African-Americans. Most respondents are 18 or 19 years old. In the current study, the effects of all the independent variables on delinquent behavior were examined using Pearson's correlation. Next, labeling theory was tested by a series of ordinary least squares regressions. The effects of sociability and school experience on delinquency were first examined using Pearson's correlations, controlling for race and gender. These variables were then analyzed by ordinary least squares regression, controlling for variables from labeling and control theories. Results show that active sociability was a strong predictor of delinquent behavior for African-American and white teenagers. Negative school experiences predicted delinquency only among whites. Labeling and control theories received weak support. 5 tables and 83 references