NCJ Number
205542
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 48 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2004 Pages: 281-297
Date Published
June 2004
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study tested the central hypotheses of Agnew's general strain theory in explaining delinquency among a sample of 615 middle school and high school students from both rural and urban areas of the People's Republic of China.
Abstract
Agnew (1992) defined strain as "relationships in which others are not treating the individual as he or she would like to be treated." These negative relationships, according to the general strain theory (GST), are manifested in three types of strain: the failure to achieve positively valued goals, the removal of positively valued stimuli to which one has become accustomed, and the exposure of the individual to aversive situations and frustrating events. According to GST, individuals who experience strain may develop negative emotions, including anger, when they observe adversity imposed by others, resentment when perceiving unjust treatment by others, and depression or anxiety when one blames oneself for the stressful consequence. These negative emotions in turn require coping as a way of relieving internal pressure. One form of adaptive behavior in coping is lawbreaking. In testing these GST hypotheses, the current study used data on 625 students obtained in the summer of 2002. The survey instrument constituted an anonymous self-report questionnaire that contained 360 questions. Information was obtained on exposure to negative stimuli, negative emotions, delinquency/deviance, and control variables. The study found that anger mediated the effect of interpersonal strain on violence; resentment mediated the effect of interpersonal strain on nonviolent delinquency; and anxiety and depression mediated the relationships between interpersonal strain and minor offenses. These findings are generally consistent with the results of earlier studies in the United States. Overall, the findings support the central hypotheses of the mediating model in GST in the context of a non-Western culture. The findings suggest the need for effective intervention programs in school, at home, and in society. In addition to more social services or facilities to support youth with poor interpersonal relations, psychological counseling and mental health services are needed to assist youths with psychological problems. 4 tables and 31 references