Investigating the Integrated Psychosocial Model of Criminal Social Identity (IPM-CSI) within a sample of community based youth offenders

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current study aimed to explore the correlates of CSI in a single study, using the recently validated MDSI (Measure of Delinquent Social Identity). Path analysis was conducted among a sample of opportunistically selected youth offenders (N = 536; age range from 12 to 17 years), separately for boys (n = 348; M age = 15.28 years) and girls (n = 188; M age = 15.23 years). Findings showed a positive significant relationship between interpersonal manipulation and in-group affect (β = .08) for boys, and a positive significant relationship between interpersonal manipulation and in-group ties (β = .21) for girls. Among boys, the findings revealed a negative significant relationship between self-esteem and cognitive centrality (β = −.13). For girls only, a negative significant relationship was identified between living with parents and associating with criminal friends (β = −.20). Limitations and advantages, including practical implications, of the current research are discussed, highlighting directions for future research.