NCJ Number
182832
Journal
Social Work Research Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: March 1999 Pages: 28-41
Editor(s)
Annie E. Fortune Ph.D.
Date Published
1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The sample in this study consisted of 326 males between 15 and 24 years of age in an Arkansas boot camp, and the study goal was to test the problem syndrome argument by factor analysis of items measuring drug use, property crimes, and crimes against persons.
Abstract
Three separate outcome or dependent variables were analyzed in the study. The drug measure consisted of six items that asked respondents if they had ever used a wide variety of illicit drugs. The second variable was composed of five items that asked respondents how many times they had committed various theft offenses, while the third variable asked respondents about crimes against the person. Theoretical measures assessed in the study were attachment, beliefs, religiosity, abuse, peer association, excuses, selling illicit drugs, carrying a gun, and race. A 150-item questionnaire was administered to each class of 15 to 30 boot camp participants by a psychologist. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that, with the singular exception of resisting arrest, the 15 items measuring unlawful behavior entered into the maximum likelihood factor analysis loaded according to drug use, property crimes, and crimes against persons. Findings did not support the assumption of the problem syndrome argument that various forms of drug use and criminal activities are behavioral manifestations of one underlying problem or factor. Implications of the findings for social work are discussed. 73 references, 7 tables, and 1 figure