School Misconduct Research Articles

Adolescent Perceptions of Help-Seeking Resources for Substance Abuse

Adolescent perceptions of help-seeking social resources (e.g., parents, friends, school counselor, clergyman) they would utilize if they were having substance abuse difficulties were investigated for samples of early and middle adolescents. 8 different perceived help-seeking categories were identified, and intergroup comparisons were made with regard to gender and ethnic/racial group and with regard to alcohol consumption, substance-related problems, and school misconduct. 2 perceived help-seeking categories had the highest levels of problem behaviors. The first category consisted of adolescents who identified friends as the only social resource they would utilize if they were having substance abuse problems. The second category, referred to as social isolates, indicated that they would not utilize any social resource if they were having substance abuse problems. There were approximately twice as many male social isolates as female social isolates, and blacks and Hispanics were highly overrepresented in the social isolate category.

Predictors of Driving While Intoxicated among Teenagers

Youthful driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults. In spite of great social concern about teenagers and DWI, definitive studies are lacking which characterize youth who are at a high risk for this problem behavior. The present study uses a large representative sample of over 11,000 New York State secondary school students aged 16 years and older. The relationships between DWI, alcohol use, other drug use and numerous social factors are explored using multivariate analysis. Driving while intoxicated is found to be a prevalent problem, occurring among almost a quarter of the high school students in the past year. DWI is strongly related to various sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, ethnicity and geographic region. Furthermore, DWI is found to be part of a complex network of adolescent problem behaviors including other alcohol-related problems, illicit drug abuse and school misconduct.

Patterns and predictors of alcohol use among 7-12th grade students in New York State.

A survey was conducted to determine prevalence and patterns in the use of alcohol and other substances among 7-12th grade students in New York State. Of this representative sample of 27,335 secondary school students, 71% are drinkers and 13% are heavy drinkers, i.e., they drink at least once a week and typically consume 5 or more drinks per occasion. White and American Indian students have higher rates of drinking and of heavy drinking than do Hispanic, Black, West Indian and Oriental students. The rates of drinking in New York State are higher than those reported in recent national surveys of adolescents. The heavy drinking student can be characterized by frequent school misconduct, first becoming drunk at an early age, having a greater number of friends who get drunk weekly, parental approval of drinking, poor grades in school, being an older adolescent, and being male and White.

Explanations of the sex‐deviance relationship

This paper examines sex differences in school deviance and compares a cultural/socialization explanation (the machismo thesis) and structural explanations of this differential. In general, the findings show that the sex‐school deviance relationship is completely explained by differences in social controls and pressures which are structured by sex, and that machismo identity may be a mediator of this relationship for aggression but not for general school misconduct. In addition, the findings suggest that sex differences in deviance are enhanced because children tend to be influenced by same‐sexed peers.

School crime and disruption as a function of student-school fit: An empirical assessment

A theoretical model is described which conceptualizes school crime and disruption as a function of the congruence or fit between the personal characteristics of students and the social environments of the schools they attend. In a direct empirical test of the model, indices representing 10 distinct dimensions of student-school fit are related to three composite measures of school misconduct: school crime, school avoidance, and class misbehavior. A number of significant relationships are found between dimensions of student-school fit and the three indices of school misbehavior, several of which manifest one of the nonlinear forms specified by the model, providing at least modest support for a person-environment fit theory of school crime and disruption.

Track Position, School Misconduct, and Youth Deviance

Track Position, School Misconduct, and Youth Deviance

Personality Traits and Misdemeanor of High School Students

Distinctive personality traits account for every person, who they are, and how they behave. This study reported the personality traits and extent of misdemeanor of high school students. Additionally, the relationship between personality traits and misdemeanor in demographic variables was also explored. Using descriptive- correlational research designs, 100 respondents who were identified with misdemeanor cases provided data for this study. Using frequency count, mean, and Chi-square in analyzing the results, findings of the study revealed an average level of personality traits and a moderate extent of misdemeanor. Alcohol, school misconduct, and vandalism were found as salient misdemeanor acts among respondents. Furthermore, both indirect and direct salient factors attributed to personality traits and misdemeanor were influential to students. Moreover, indirect and direct sources could predict personality traits and misdemeanor among demographic variables. Intervention program that motivates positive attitude and discipline should be established to manage and cope with behavioral problems.

The comparative influence of punitive and nonpunitive teachers upon children's concepts of school misconduct.

The comparative influence of punitive and nonpunitive teachers upon children's concepts of school misconduct.