Financial Strain, Anger, and Crime among African American Women Under Correctional Supervision

• In Event: Financial Processes, Strain and Crime

Abstract

Over the past two decades, researchers have studied differences between causal factors among men and women in their involvement in crime. For example, does financial strain cause women to commit crime like among men? What role do emotions, specifically anger, contribute the relationship? And, how does race factor into the relationship? The current study examines the impact of economic hardship on crime, including drug use, and the mediation effect of anger on the relationship using a General Strain Theory framework. Structured interviews were conducted by trained interviewers with a longitudinal sample of African American women under correctional supervision (n=299). Binary logistic regression revealed that economic hardship experiences increased the likelihood of crime (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 0.99-4.21; p<.05) and women who experienced anger were over five times (OR: 5.35; 95% CI: 2.17-13.17; p=.000) more likely to engage in crime. The latter effect was so strong that it completely mediated the strain-crime relationship. Strengths and drawbacks are discussed, as well as directions for future research.

Authors

• Nathan Lowe, American Probation and Parole Association

• Carrie Oser, University of Kentucky