Support For General Strain Theory Research Articles

An Examination of the Reciprocal Relations Between Treatment by Others, Anger, and Antisocial Behavior: A Partial Test of General Strain Theory

General Strain Theory (GST) has received an impressive amount of empirical attention. However, much remains unknown about the role of sources of strain argued to be conducive to negative emotionality—such as perceived unjust treatment—on changes in anger and antisocial behavior over time. The current study aimed to begin to address this gap in the literature by assessing the relationship between changes in perceived unjust treatment, anger, and antisocial behavior across 8 years of the life course. Results from a series of auto-regressive cross-lagged models show support for GST, as well as offer evidence for new lines of empirical investigation. The reported findings offer some of the first evidence for a developmental cascade model of GST.

Bullying Victimization and Weapon Carrying: A Partial Test of General Strain Theory

Much of the existing research on adolescent firearm and weapon carrying lacks a theoretical framework. Relatedly, few studies have examined the relationship between weapon carrying and bullying victimization experienced at school, which has been established as a key strain in adolescence. The present study seeks to provide a partial test of general strain theory as a theoretical framework to explain adolescent weapon carrying. Using a large U.S. sample of 7th through 10th grade students ( n = 8,867), I find qualified support for general strain theory. While an index measure of bullying victimization was positively associated with weapon carrying as expected, two measures assessing specific forms of bullying victimization had nonlinear effects that are inconsistent with the theory. The proportion of one’s friends who carry weapons was consistently one of the strongest predictors of a respondent’s own weapon carrying. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

The Relationship Between Family Gambling Problems, Other Family Stressors, and Health Indicators in a Large Population-Representative Sample of Australian Adults.

Harms due to excessive gambling can be experienced by gamblers and those close to them. Family gambling problems (FGPs) are currently under-researched, particularly in population-representative samples. This study aimed to identify prevalence, risk factors, and the complex of stressors and health-related consequences associated with FGPs, as well as isolating the impact of FGPs on physical and psychological health problems. We analysed data from the National Health Survey 2011-13, a large (N = 15,475) nationally representative sample of Australian adults. Participants reported on the presence of 14 family stressors (including FGPs), self-assessed health status, and risky health behaviours. Psychological impact was measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10, as well as several indicators of the presence of mental health problems. Overall, 1.7% of households reported a FGP. Interviewees in these households reported three times the number of other stressors than those without a FGP. In addition, they were around eight times more likely to be experiencing other addictions (drug and alcohol related problems) and stressors associated with socially deviant behaviours (trouble with police, abuse or violent crime, and witness to violence). Once age, gender, socioeconomic disadvantage, and other stressors were controlled for, FGPs significantly predicted lower self-assessed health and higher psychological distress. FGPs occur within a complex of other addictions and stressors, impacting the quality of life of people close to problem gambling. The findings are discussed in relation to their support for General Strain Theory (Agnew, Criminology 30:47-87, 1992).

Strain, negative emotion, and cyber violence among South Korean Juveniles: A mediation analysis

While there has been moderate support for General Strain Theory (GST), the extant body of literature has been criticized for its lack of diversity (i.e., not sufficiently considering cross-cultural differences) as well as for its lack of stringency in testing mediators between strain and criminal behavior. As such, the current study investigated the intervening effect of the negative emotion of anger between school strain, as well as family strain, and cyber violence among South Korean youth. Also, it focused on their strains, which due to their traditional roots in Confucian culture, may be qualitatively and quantitatively different than those experienced by youth in Western societies. By using a manifest mediation analysis and a bias-corrected bootstrap method, this study found that the reason they committed cyber violence was not so much due to getting stressed out from the toxic relationship with their teacher as due to anger’s mediating role in the relationship between the strain and cyber violence. Results from the present study provided full support for GST’s application to a Confucian-based country. Theoretical and policy implications were discussed.

From Victimization to Criminalization: General Strain Theory and the Relationship Between Poly-victimization and Delinquency

ABSTRACTAlthough it is well established that victimization and delinquency are related, it is not clear how this relationship works, and victims and offenders are still often studied and treated as two distinct groups. General strain theory views victimization as a form of injustice, which can give rise to anger and eventually lead to delinquency. The authors examine victimization, in particular polyvictimization, as a criminogenic factor. Based on a sample of 1,400 youths 12–17 years old in Quebec (Canada), they examine polyvictimization in relation to delinquency as well as negative emotions that can result from victimization namely anger, depression, and posttraumatic stress. The findings show support for general strain theory and highlight the importance of anger for the relationship between victimization and juvenile delinquency.

Alcohol Consumption Among Turkish Adolescents: An Empirical Test of General Strain Theory

ABSTRACTUsing data drawn from the 2008 Youth in Europe Survey, the current study examined alcohol consumption among Turkish adolescents through the lens of Agnew's general strain theory (GST). Although considerable attention has been paid to alcohol consumption among adolescents, extant research has remained limited to Western countries. Similarly, much of the support for GST was derived from research conducted in the United States. The current study explores factors associated with alcohol consumption in Turkey and tests the generalizability of GST. Results from ordinal logistic regression analyses indicated that, except for family strain, specific kinds of strain were significantly associated with drinking behavior without any mediating effect that could emanate from students’ negative affective states.

Do the Effects of Strain and Religiosity on Criminal Coping Differ by Race and Ethnicity?

Recently, Agnew suggested that delinquent offending is more likely to occur in the presence of a variety of criminogenic risk factors. Prior research has suggested that racial and ethnic differences exist in both the type and frequency of negative life experiences as well as coping mechanisms utilized in response to these strains. The current study sought to determine the relationship between prior victimization and a coping mechanism on subsequent offending, while controlling for the role of criminogenic risk factors. Racial and ethnic differences were also explored. Results revealed mixed support for general strain theory’s arguments on the unequivocal import of victimization as well as racial and ethnic differences in the impact of strain and religiosity on future offending. Future research considering criminal propensities and racial/ethnic differences are needed.

Pseudofamilies, Misconduct, and the Utility of General Strain Theory in a Women's Prison

This study tests general strain theory among a sample of 216 incarcerated women. Incarcerated women cope with many strains in prison. They frequently rely on social support from other inmates as coping mechanisms. Some even form pseudofamilies. Such relationships may impact the level of strain and negative emotions these women experience and the misconduct they engage in. The purpose of this study is to explore what relationship (if any) exists between strain, anger, depression, institutional misconduct, and pseudofamily membership. Findings suggest limited support for general strain theory and highlight the importance of women's past victimizations and impulsivity in predicting their misconduct.

The Impact of Polyvictimization on Delinquency Among Latino Adolescents: A General Strain Theory Perspective.

Although criminological research has provided support for general strain theory (GST), there is still little known about the relationship between victimization and delinquency among Latino adolescents. This study seeks to fill the gap in the literature by examining the association between a broader measure of victimization (i.e., polyvictimization) and delinquent behavior using data from the Dating Violence Among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) Study, a national sample of Latino youth. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine two issues: (a) whether polyvictimization is associated with self-reported delinquent behavior and (b) whether anger mediates the relationship between polyvictimization and delinquency. Our findings provided partial support for GST among Latino youth. Specifically, the effect of polyvictimization on delinquency was explained in part by its effect on anger. Contrary to the theory's hypothesis, the effect of polyvictimization was not conditional on the effect of social support. Overall, findings suggested that GST is a promising framework for understanding the relationship between polyvictimization and delinquency among Latino youth.

Prescription Drug Misuse and Gender

In recent years, prescription drug misuse has become a serious public health issue. A number of studies in this area have identified females to be at an increased risk for prescription drug misuse during adolescence. Guided by Agnew's general strain theory, the current research examined the relationship between prescription drug misuse and gender during adolescence. We used data from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a sample representative of the non-institutionalized population of the United States. Logistic regression models were estimated to examine the relationship between gender, prescription drug misuse, strain, and depression. The findings indicated that females were at an increased for prescription drug misuse. We also found support for general strain theory, as strain and depression were significantly related to prescription drug misuse. In addition, we found evidence that strain was gendered in that elements of general strain theory accounted for the relationship between prescription drug misuse and gender.

Examining Race and Ethnicity in the Context of General Strain Theory, Depression, and Delinquency

The current study draws on general strain theory (GST) to explore the relationship between strain, race, and delinquent behavior. White, black, and Hispanic youth were examined to assess the effect of strain on nonserious and serious delinquency. Results indicate mixed support for GST in that indicators of strain to varying degrees predicted depression and youth involvement in delinquency. However, depression did not mediate the strain–delinquency relationship, and race and ethnicity were still directly related to delinquent coping. While white, black, and Hispanic youth experienced certain types of strain, these groups overall were not statistically different from one another.

Does victimization reduce self-control? A longitudinal analysis

Purpose To examine the effect of victimization on self-control. Method Five waves of data from the GREAT survey are analyzed; the effect of prior victimization on subsequent self-control is estimated using the dynamic panel generalized-method of moments. Results Victimization reduces subsequent self-control in the near term. Conclusions The findings point to another source of low self-control, help to explain why prior victimization is linked to subsequent victimization, and provide support for general strain theory – which predicts that strains such as victimization will reduce self-control.

Explaining the Link Between Race and Violence With General Strain Theory

General strain theory predicts that race-related discrimination will raise the risk of serious violent offending. Data from a sample of African American students from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health are analyzed to test the hypothesis. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that, net of controls, perceiving that students at school are prejudiced was positively associated with seriously injuring at least one person in the past year. Several of the control measures were also found to predict violent behavior, providing partial support for general strain theory.

Recent life events and subjective well-being of personality disordered forensic outpatients

Purpose The majority of patients treated at forensic psychiatric outpatient facilities suffer from personality disorders, especially Cluster B disorders. Life events have been shown to influence subjective well-being, severity of psychopathology and delinquent behaviour of patients with different personality disorders. However, the influence of life events on subjective well-being of patients suffering from Cluster B personality disorders has rarely been studied. Following General Strain Theory and the dynamic equilibrium model, we hypothesised that negative life events would negatively influence subjective well-being, and that subjective well-being would change when an instability of life events occurs. Methods Fifty-six adult male forensic psychiatric outpatients were interviewed on their subjective well-being and filled out a self-report life event questionnaire, at three time-points, with an interval of three months. Life events were categorized along two dimensions: positive / negative and controllable / uncontrollable. Results Patients had a stable pattern of positive, negative controllable and uncontrollable life events. Positive controllable events did not have a stable pattern. Results indicated that only negative controllable events correlated negatively with subjective well-being. Furthermore, positive and positive controllable events correlated with a positive change in subjective well-being and uncontrollable events correlated negatively with this change. Conclusions Forensic psychiatric outpatients seem to experience a relatively stable ‘load’ of stressful life events, that does not influence change in subjective well-being. We did not find unequivocal support for General Strain Theory. In line with the dynamic equilibrium model, forensic outpatients seemed less used to positive controllable life events, which influenced positive change in subjective well-being. In outpatient forensic treatment, attempts to limit negative life events together with enhancing behaviour which results in positive events should be targeted. This might result in better lives for patients and in reduced criminal behaviour.

GENERAL STRAIN THEORY: ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE USING CROSS‐CULTURAL DATA*

Data from random samples of residents in major cities of Russia, Ukraine, and Greece are employed to test hypotheses about linkages among objective strain, subjective strain, anger, and criminal probability specified in general strain theory (GST). In addition, the potential conditioning effects of religiosity and self‐control on the strain/criminal probability relationship are investigated. Results show more challenge than support for GST. In particular, all supportive results are for the Ukrainian sample with the Greek and Russian samples providing little confirmation to the study's hypotheses. Although analyses show some support for the basic premises of GST, using a measure of subjective strain does not improve results, and self‐control and religiosity do not seem to condition the effects of strain on criminal probability. Overall, the findings point to contextual specificity of GST as currently formulated and suggest the need for further theorizing.

General Strain Theory and Delinquency

The study examines the effects of recent, older, and chronic strains and of perceived injustice of strain on delinquency, sampling 777 Korean youth. Seven key strains most likely leading to delinquency, some of which were often overlooked in previous research, were included, and these are family conflict, parental punishment, teachers' punishment, financial strain, examination-related strain, being bullied, and criminal victimization. Overall, the findings provide some support for general strain theory's prediction that some recent strains and perceived injustice have significant effects on delinquency. The results show that recent and older teachers' physical and emotional punishment and victimization are positively related to general delinquency. However, chronic parental punishment and chronic bullying are negatively related to general delinquency, inconsistent with Agnew's prediction. The findings also indicate the critical importance of including types of strain that are unique to certain cultures into tests of the theory.

Exploring the utility of general strain theory in explaining problematic alcohol consumption by police officers

Research has shown a link between police officer stress and negative coping strategies, particularly problematic alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, most research on this topic has not been theoretically informed. Agnew's general strain theory (GST) offers a potential theoretical explanation for this relationship. Furthermore, few studies of GST had been conducted on samples other than school-aged adolescents or college students. The purpose of this study was two-fold. First, the authors examined whether GST could explain drinking prevalence and problematic alcohol consumption among police officers. Second, the generalizability of GST to a sample of police officers was examined. Using data collected from a large sample of Baltimore, Maryland police officers, support for GST was found. Consistent with theoretical expectations, multivariate logit and ordinal logit regression models showed that the relationship between work-related strain and drinking prevalence and problematic alcohol consumption was mediated through anxiety/depression. Ideas for future research are discussed.