Skill Deficits and Male Adolescent Delinquency

• NCJ Number: 108909
• Journal: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (1984) Pages: 37-54
• Author(s): T J Dishion; R Loeber; M Stouthamer-Loeber; G R Patterson
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 54 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 32857
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report investigated the relationship between seven measures of skill and official and self-reported delinquency and found that academic skill deficits may be the strongest covariates of antisocial behavior.

Abstract

Research literature on juvenile delinquency shows that antisocial adolescents are often lacking in academic, interpersonal, and work skills. Past research has focused primarily on the relationship between single skill deficits and official delinquency. The study sample consisted of 70 white male adolescents and their families in the Eugene, Oreg; area. The 70 adolescents participated in a 3-hour interview session. Skills were assessed using the Adolescent Problem Inventory, the Child Behavior Checklist, the Wide Range Achievement, and the Ammons Full-Range Picture Vocabulary Test. Parents completed the Parent Rating Questionnaire. Results indicated that the youths classified as delinquent on the basis of prior police contact had a lower multivariate profile on seven measures of academic, interpersonal, and work skills. Five of the seven measures correlated significantly with both the official and self-reported criteria of delinquency. 4 tables and 34 references. (Author abstract modified)