Examining Protective Factors for Antisocial Behaviors Among Rural and Urban Youth

• In Event: Protective and Risk Factors for Delinquency and Drug Use

Abstract

Based on data from the 2010, 2012, 2014 Communities that Care Youth Survey (CCYS), the authors examine the protective factors associated with rural and urban 6 thru 12 grade students across several domains. This research is based on the literature that associates rural areas with a more protective environment and resulting lower rates of deviance. Findings were mixed but overall rural youth had higher protective factor scores than urban youth. A summary of all 84 protective factor scores: 26 factors showed no significant difference between rural and urban students; on 42 protective factors rural youth had higher scores; urban youth had higher protective scores on only 16 factors. Implications of findings for crime and delinquency are discussed.

Authors

• Craig Joseph Forsyth, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

• Raymond W. Biggar, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

• Jing Chen, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

• Tayler A. Richard, University of Louisiana at Lafayette