NCJ Number
231696
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 37 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 989-1004
Date Published
September 2010
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study explored the dynamic association between adolescents' desire for autonomy and delinquency from a life course perspective.
Abstract
Leading criminological theories, including Moffitt's adolescence-limited delinquency theory and Agnew's general strain theory, identify adolescents' need for autonomy as a key factor in shaping the trajectories of delinquency. Few empirical studies, however, approach it from a life course perspective. Applying latent growth curve modeling, this study uses a national longitudinal dataset, Add Health, to demonstrate that there is a significant association between delinquency and the desire for autonomy. Prior cross-sectional studies, however, overestimate this linkage. In addition, the association between desire for autonomy and delinquency is offense specific, suggesting that criminology theories and future research need to consider adolescents' developmental stages and their social environments. Finally, adolescents' expression of negative emotions partially explains the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between the need for autonomy and delinquency. Tables, figures, notes, and references (Published Abstract)