Relational Strains and Delinquency: Assessing the Gendering of Emotions’ Claims among Chinese Adolescents*

Abstract

This study assesses the gendering of emotions’ claims in an understudied population, that is, adolescents in mainland China. Specifically, it examines gender variations in the emotional reactions to relational strains and gendered responses to emotions with types of delinquency. Data drawn from over 500 middle‐school students from an urban city in China yield results in support of general strain theory in most respects, but culture‐specific patterns are noted. In general, Chinese boys and girls respond to different domains of relational strains, and relational strains are more strongly associated with depression than anger. Furthermore, boys respond to relational strains with anger more often than do girls, whereas girls and boys are about equal in responding to strains with depression. Gender differences are observed concerning responses to emotions with delinquency. Boys are more likely than girls to use aggression in response to anger and depression, whereas no gender differences are manifested in the reaction to emotions with non‐aggressive delinquency. Gender patterns are also noted in the assessment of negative emotions as mediators of the strain–delinquency relationship. We address these findings along with other observations in light of general strain theory and sociocultural factors pertinent to mainland China.