NCJ Number
232834
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2010 Pages: 207-220
Date Published
December 2010
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study used a structured model approach to investigate the predictive effect of family, school, and community factors on adolescent offending behavior.
Abstract
It seems undeniable that immediate social contexts exert an important influential role on adolescent behavioral adjustment. Research thus far has found that certain family, school and community/neighborhood environment characteristics may influence a youth's involvement in risk activities such as antisocial behavior and drug use, and even delinquent behavior. However, the mechanisms that link these characteristics to such behaviors have not yet been thoroughly analyzed and prior research has focused mainly on adult populations. The objective of this study was to analyze the joint contribution of specific factors, deriving from family, school and society, which have an effect on levels of drug consumption, antisocial and offending behavior, in a sample of 2,528 youths (aged 10 to 16). In particular, in accounting for involvement in risk activities and ultimately in offending behavior, the authors examined interactions among the following variables: living in a disadvantaged community, quality of relationship with parents, distrust in local police, attitude to social norms, and rejection of and from school (truancy, suspension and expulsion). A structural equation model was calculated to account for these interactions, which revealed patterns of influence with important practical implications related to social policies on risk behaviors in adolescence. Table, figure, and references (Published Abstract)