Family, School, Peer, and Media Predictors of Adolescent Deviant Behavior in Hong Kong

• NCJ Number: 170559
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 26 Issue: 5 Dated: (October 1997) Pages: 569-596
• Author(s): Y W Cheung
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 28 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article estimates the strengths of selected variables in predicting adolescent deviant behavior.

Abstract

Based on a self-report study of 1,139 secondary school students in Hong Kong, this article estimates the strengths of selected family, school, peer and media variables in predicting adolescent deviant behavior. Regression results show that the equation containing peers' deviant behavior, peers' disapproval of deviant behavior, frequency of media exposure, preference for violent/obscene content, imitation of media characters, parents¦ deviant behavior, and teachers' negative evaluation explained the greatest amount of variance of adolescent deviant behavior. Results of this study are consistent with previous findings: peers' deviant behavior is the best predictor for adolescent deviant behavior. However, peers' informal social control is minimal. The article discusses theoretical and research implications of these and other findings for the rapidly industrializing and modernizing society of Hong Kong. Notes, tables, appendix, references