The study used cross-sectional survey data from telephone interviews conducted with individuals aged 60 years and older in Arizona and Florida (N = 2,000). Regression analyses showed that low self-control was related to criminal offending. The relationship between low self-control and offending persisted after the introduction of potential mediators (e.g., unstructured socializing, negative emotions, and familial ties) and was even observed across different stages of late adulthood (i.e., young-old, old-old, and oldest-old) characterized by declining physical and cognitive abilities. Robustness checks using alternative measurement and modeling strategies also provided empirical support. Although strong causal inferences were limited by the nature of the data, the findings generally support the notion that low self-control theory partially explains criminal offending in late adulthood. (publisher abstract modified)
Downloads
Similar Publications
- MANDATORY PRISON SENTENCES - THEIR PROJECTED EFFECTS ON CRIME AND PRISON POPULATIONS
- Joint Research Partnership for Community Oriented Policing Saint Louis University and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department: Final Report
- Guns in America: Results of a Comprehensive National Survey on Firearms Ownership and Use