Abstract
Using four waves of data from Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 (N = 3328 students at Wave 1), this study examined the development of delinquent behavior and its relationships with economic disadvantage, family non-intactness, family quality of life (i.e., family functioning) and personal well-being (i.e., positive youth development) among Hong Kong adolescents. Individual growth curve models revealed that delinquent behavior increased during this period, and adolescents living in non-intact families (vs. intact families) reported higher initial levels of delinquent behavior while those living in poor families (vs. non-poor families) showed a greater increase in delinquent behavior. In addition, with the demographic factors controlled, the initial levels of family quality of life and personal well-being were negatively associated with the initial level of delinquent behavior, but positively associated with the growth rate of delinquent behavior. Regression analyses showed that family quality of life and personal well-being were related to the overall delinquent behavior concurrently at Wave 4. However, Wave 1 family quality of life and personal well-being did not predict Wave 4 delinquent behavior with the initial level of delinquent behavior controlled. Lastly, we discussed the role of economic disadvantage and family non-intactness as risk factors and family functioning and positive youth development as protective well-being factors in the development of adolescent well-being indexed by delinquent behavior.
Highlights
Delinquent behavior increases during adolescence, especially early adolescence, in both the Western (e.g., Farrell et al 2005; Overbeek et al 2001) and Chinese contexts (Shek and Yu 2012; Shek and Lin 2014a)
Using four waves of data from Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 (N = 3328 students at Wave 1), this study examined the development of delinquent behavior and its relationships with economic disadvantage, family non-intactness, family quality of life and personal well-being among Hong Kong adolescents
Given a dearth of evidence reporting how the change of delinquent behavior differs among adolescents from different families, we explored whether the shape of the growth curve of delinquent behavior differs according to economic disadvantage and family intactness
Summary
Delinquent behavior increases during adolescence, especially early adolescence, in both the Western (e.g., Farrell et al 2005; Overbeek et al 2001) and Chinese contexts (Shek and Yu 2012; Shek and Lin 2014a). Many studies have been conducted to identify risk and protective factors of delinquent behavior during adolescence (e.g., Jessor et al 2003; Jessor and Turbin 2014). For the risk factors that enhance the likelihood of delinquent involvement, family adversity in terms of economic disadvantage (see McLoyd et al 2009 for a review) and family disruption (see Lansford 2009 for a review) is strongly emphasized in the previous literature. Longitudinal research examining their long-term effects on delinquent behavior, especially in non-Western contexts, is still lacking
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