The Prediction of Delinquency among Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Youth

Abstract

Using a cross-sectional data set of 837 male adolescents (346 local Germans, 375 ethnic German immigrants from the countries of the Former Soviet Union (average length of residence = 7.6 years), 52 first-generation (= foreign born, average length of residence = 9.2 years) and 64 second-generation immigrants (= born in Germany) from other origins such as Turkey, Former Yugoslavia or Afghanistan) aged 15.4 years, this article brings together acculturation research with research on behavior problems in non-immigrant youth. Male immigrants reported higher numbers of delinquent acts pursued in the last 12 months than local boys. First-generation immigrants from mostly Muslim backgrounds show the highest amount of problem behavior. In spite of these differences, comparisons of structural equation models show that the prediction of delinquency is about the same (delinquent beliefs and friends, clique membership, parental monitoring, and language problems) for all four groups. Applying stepwise regression analyses, most of the culture-related variance in boys' delinquency is explained by the same set of predictors with delinquent beliefs and parental violence being the most powerful markers for the differences between the groups. The discussion sheds light on the living situation of immigrant youth in Germany and why delinquent beliefs may be of central importance to understanding the differences between local and immigrant youth.