Assessing the Predictive Utility of Delinquency Theories Across Greater China: A Study of Regional Similarities and Differences

• In Event: Cross-Cultural Studies on Crime and Criminal Justice

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency has been a primary focus of several criminological theories, including social learning theory, social bond theory, and general strain theory. These theories all claim a degree of universal applicability in predicting juvenile delinquency. Despite the application of delinquency theories to juvenile delinquency studies in Greater China, there lacks a comparative analysis using standardized instruments across its diverse social and cultural contexts, leaving a critical gap in understanding the uniformity of these theories' predictive utility region-wide. This study aims to bridge this gap by testing the predictive utility of these theories using data collected from over 8,000 secondary school students in Macao, Shanghai, and Taipei—three major cities in Greater China, each with its unique political and educational system. Negative binomial regression analyses revealed that each theory contributes significant predictors of juvenile delinquency in all three societies. The relative strength of these predictors varies considerably across the cities, however. Thus, the findings suggest that intervention programs aimed at preventing juvenile delinquency should prioritize risk factors specific to each society.

Authors

• Spencer De Li, University of Macau

• Yiyi Chen, University of Macau