NCJ Number
146947
Journal
Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (Fall 1993) Pages: 84-92
Date Published
1993
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined the associations between selected psychosocial variables and serious delinquency.
Abstract
Serious delinquency was an additive value based on severity weights of all offenses in the youths' offense histories. A previous survey conducted by the author found a range of severity values for over 200 offenses that ranged from murder to driving violations. Subjects were incarcerated delinquent offenders. Relationships between the independent variable and the offense severity measures were examined using Pearson correlation. Variables found to have significant associations with the criterion measures were then submitted to factor analysis to disclose the interrelated structure of the psychosocial variables. A five-factor model offered a paradigm for the underlying psychosocial elements of serious delinquency. This model was regressed on the five dimensions of serious delinquency. Results indicated that family functioning, defined as the degree of affectionate bonding and measure of emotional and physical abuse, contributed significantly to serious delinquency. Other factors related to serious delinquency included number of out-of-home placements in institutions and foster homes, peer/sibling influence, chronic offense history, and age at first adjudication. 3 tables and 16 references