Investigating Integrative Frameworks for Adolescent Deviance

• In Event: Measurement and Methodologies in Life Course Criminology

Abstract

Although numerous criminological theories have been developed to explain adolescent deviance, single theoretical frameworks often provide only partial explanations. Integrative theories combine multiple criminological perspectives to address this limitation to enhance explanatory power. However, empirical examinations of these models remain scarce, particularly outside Western contexts. This study seeks to fill this gap by empirically testing three prominent integrative models proposed by Elliott et al. (1979), Hayes (1997), and Thornberry (1987) using longitudinal, nationally representative data from the Korean Youth Panel Study. Specifically, data from Wave 1 at age 14 to Wave 3 at age 16 were used for Thornberry’s model with a sample size of 2,841, Wave 1 to Wave 4 at age 17 for Elliott et al.’s model with a sample size of 2,815, and Wave 1 to Wave 5 at age 18 for Hayes’s model with a sample size of 2,672. Structural Equation Modeling was employed to evaluate the theoretical validity of each model. The results provide strong empirical support for all three integrative models in explaining adolescent deviance in the South Korean context, demonstrating greater explanatory power than single-theory approaches. These findings underscore the cross-cultural applicability of integrative criminological models. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Author

• Wonki Lee, Sam Houston State University