Cumulative Risk Factors Leading to Delinquency and Antisocial Behavior

• In Event: Youth Victimization: Diverse Contexts and Psychosocial Consequences

Abstract

Introduction

Research has supported the notion that gang involvement increases rates of delinquency and violence (Thornberry, Krohn, Lizotte, & Chard-Wierschem, 1993). Many schools have become meeting places for gang activity, predominantly for recruiting and socializing (Arthur & Erickson, 1992). Due to peer group influences, youth who are pressured may be at risk for joining a gang. Risk factors to gang involvement include; exposure to gang members in class, friends who use drugs, and interaction with delinquent peers (Curry & Spergel, 1992; Kosterman, Hawkins, Hill, Abbott, Catalano, & Guo, 1996).
This study seeks to examine the similarities of three subgroups: gang members, youth who were pressured to join but did not, and non-gang youth (have never been pressured to join). To identify whether gang members are exposed to more risk factors and engage in higher rates of delinquency.

Theoretical Framework
Interactional theory was used to guide this research. The theory suggests that gang membership results from the relationships between the individual and other influences, such as family structure and peer groups (Thornberry, 1987). This study uses cumulative risk factors for gang membership (individual, family, school, peers, and community) to explore differences between subgroups (Thornberry, 1998).

Methods
Participants included 17,366 middle and high school students in a mid-western county. Students completed the 2009 Dane County Youth Survey online during school hours. Males comprised 50.8% and females comprised 49.2% of participants. The majority of students identified as White (67.8%), followed by Black (12.5%), Hispanic (6.8%), Mixed Race (4.7%), Hmong (3.1%), Asian not Hmong (2.8%), Other (1.3%) and Native American (0.8%). MANOVA analyses were conducted across a variety of risk factor and delinquency measures. Post hoc comparisons were conducted to identify relationships between subgroups.

Results
The first MANOVA tested whether the risk factor measures varied as a function of gang involvement. Using Wilks’ criterion, the multivariate analysis was significant, (Wilk’s λ=.746, F [28, 35648] = 200.638, p < .001, partial η2 = .14). Each univariate effect was also statistically significant. Gang members reported higher levels of interactions with delinquent peers, past trauma, mental health issues, sexual activity, family dysfunction, parental crime, and abuse at home. In addition, gang members reported lower levels of perceived neighborhood safety, school belonging, perceived school safety, parental love and support, and parental supervision. Youth who were pressured to join gangs reported exposure to the same risk factors at lower levels.
The second MANOVA tested whether the delinquency measures varied as function of gang involvement. Using Wilks’ criterion, the multivariate analysis was significant, (Wilk’s λ=.650, F [6, 25710] = 1028.535, p < .001, partial η2 = .19). Gang members reported higher levels of overall delinquency, and bullying perpetration. Followed by youth who were pressured to join. An interesting result found that non-gang members reported higher levels of alcohol and drug use.

Conclusion

Compared to their peers, gang members were exposed to risk factors and engaged in delinquency at significantly higher rates. This study adds to the existing gang literature of how cumulative risks factors can lead to negative outcomes.

Author

• Gabriel Joey Merrin, University of Illinois