Gender Differences in Gang Participation, Delinquency, and Substance Use (From Modern Gang Reader, P 93-105, 1995, Malcolm W. Klein, Cheryl L. Maxson, et al., eds. - See NCJ-173280)

• NCJ Number: 173288
• Author(s): B Bjerregaard; C Smith
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 86-JN-CX-0007(S-3); 5-R01 DA05512-02; SES-8912274
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: Roxbury Publishing Co.
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Data from the Rochester Youth Development Study were used to compare gang participation and juvenile delinquency among female and male adolescents and to examine the role of theoretical variables associated with both female and male gang membership.

Abstract

The research project involved a panel study that overrepresented adolescents at high risk for delinquency. Results revealed that involvement in gangs is associated with substantially increased levels of juvenile delinquency and drug use for both males and females. The factors associated with gang membership are somewhat similar for both sexes, although lack of school success emerges as a factor of particular relevance for female adolescents. In addition, rates of female and male gang participation within high-risk communities were comparable. Findings suggested that theory and interventions need to address the phenomenon of female gang membership as an important component of urban youth problems. Tables, notes, appended research scale with factor loadings, and 83 references (Author abstract modified)