Impact of Polyvictimization on Delinquency Among Latino Adolescents: A General Strain Theory Perspective

• NCJ Number: 249403
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: Online First Dated: July 2015
• Date Published: July 2015
• Author(s): Rebecca M. Cudmore; Carlos A. Cuevas; Chiara Sabina
• Length: 0 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2009-W9-BX-0001
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored)

Annotation

This study examined the association between a broader measure of victimization (i.e., polyvictimization) and delinquent behavior using data from the Dating Violence Among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) Study, a national sample of Latino youth.

Abstract

Although criminological research has provided support for general strain theory (GST), there is still little known about the relationship between victimization and delinquency among Latino adolescents. This study weeks to fill this gap in the literature. Overall, findings suggested that GST is a promising framework for understanding the relationship between polyvictimization and delinquency among Latino youth. Findings provided partial support for GST among Latino youth. Specifically, the effect of polyvictimization on delinquency was explained in part by its effect on anger. Contrary to the theory's hypothesis, the effect of polyvictimization was not conditional on the effect of social support. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine two issues: (a) whether polyvictimization is associated with self-reported delinquent behavior and (b) whether anger mediates the relationship between polyvictimization and delinquency. (Publisher abstract modified)