Variance In Delinquency Research Articles

Alternative household water affordability metrics using water bill delinquency behavior

Rising water prices threaten affordable access to basic water service in the U.S., especially in low-income communities. Faced with unaffordable water bills, households may use less water than is healthy, forgo other essential services, or fall behind on water bill payments, risking water shutoffs. Affordability ratios (ARs), which express water bills as a fraction of income, are the most common measure of water affordability. However, ARs can underestimate unaffordability due to both spatial aggregation bias and their reliance on indirect proxies for ability to pay. New metrics are needed to identify households at risk of water insecurity due to affordability challenges. Here we investigate alternative water affordability metrics that use water bill late payments and debt to track actual payment behavior at the household level. We define metrics that capture the frequency, duration, and severity of water bill delinquency. We apply these metrics to a case study in Santa Cruz, California, using monthly billing data for approximately 40 000 households from 2009 through 2021. We find large variation in delinquency across households and over time, with higher delinquency linked to proxies for low wealth such as lower assessed home value. Census blocks with similar ARs often have distinct patterns of delinquency behavior, suggesting that block-level median affordability estimates may be masking sub-populations facing affordability challenges. These results highlight the benefits of using multiple, household-level metrics to capture the role affordability plays in household water security.

Relationship between Sexual Abuse and Juvenile Delinquency among Girls in Kirigiti Girls Rehabilitation and Training Center, Kiambu County, Kenya

Juvenile delinquency, which has partly been attributed to family violence, has been on the increase all over the world. This study sought to find out the extent of juvenile delinquency at Kirigiti Girls Rehabilitation and Training Center (KGRTC): 
 
 To determine the prevalence of sexual abuse among girls at KGRTC, and 
 To examine the relationship between sexual abuse and juvenile delinquency among girls in KGRTC Kiambu County, Kenya
 
 The study was conceptualized by Attachment Theory. The study used an ex-post facto research design that largely employed quantitative techniques. The population study comprised 61 girl child offenders at KGRTC. The research used a census inquiry that included all 61 girl delinquents in the study, and data for the study were collected using questionnaires that were administered to the girls. The validity of the tools was established with the assistance of experts from Pan Africa Christian University (PACU), while the reliability was determined using Cronbach Coefficient Alpha through data collected in a pilot study conducted at the Kamae Girls Borstal Institution. A reliability coefficient of 0.855 was attained, which was considered an appropriate threshold. The quantitative data were analyzed by means of inferential and descriptive statistics with the assistance of the computer software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26. The results from the prevalence of sexual abuse showed that sexual abuse had a global mean score ( =2.16) for all the 12 items used to rate the prevalence of sexual abuse. This indicated that on a general scale, the girls had experienced a moderate level of various forms of sexual abuse, thus establishing that sexual abuse was a significant contributor to the development of juvenile delinquency. The study further revealed the existence of a strong, positive correlation between the sexual abuse and juvenile delinquency variables (r = + .708, n = 59, p < .01). The implications of this research suggest the need to invest heavily in psychotherapy of the girls’ inner hurts and childhood trauma as well as advocacy of appropriate approaches of parenting the girl child. The findings of this study imply that Attachment Theory may serve as an effective guiding principle for studying juvenile delinquency. This study identifies areas where difficulties exist with regard to juvenile delinquency among girls and suggests benefits for the treatment of girls from a systemic and multidimensional aspect.

Pengaruh Komunikasi Interpersonal Orangtua dengan Anak Terhadap Kenakalan Remaja Pada Siswa

The purpose of this study is to study and empirically prove the presence or absence of influence on the quality of interpersonal communication with children on juvenile delinquency instudents. The sampling method is Random Sampling, with a large sample of 28 people. The method used in this research is descriptive method, Quantitative data analysis method is the method of analysis used in research. The data to be analyzed in this study are data from the variables of interpersonal communication of parents with children (as dependent variables) and juvenile delinquency variables (as independent variables). This analytical technique used a value scale: 3.26-4.00 (excellent category, 2.51-3.25 (good/high category), 1.76-2.50 (pretty good category/high enough), 1.00-1.75 (less good/low category), From the results of data processing, it was concluded that: Parental interpersonal communication with children falls into the category of good or high with an average score of 3.07. Juvenile delinquency in students falls into the low category, with an average score of 1.03. From the results of the calculation obtained the correlation coefficient r = 0.32 (moderate positive correlation). through testing using the t Distribution, obtained; th = 1,76, tt(1-1/2) =1,701, with the provision of acceptance Ho if = –t(1-1/2 ).It turns out that through calculation th is not amongt(1-1/2) dan t(1-1/2). (-1,701 and 1,701), Then the hypothesis upheld in this study is acceptable. To find the magnitude of influence, the formula of the coefficient of determination isused. From the results of the calculation obtained a coefficient of determination of 0.106 which means the magnitude of the influence of 1.12%. From the results of the above hypothesis testing it can be concluded that the factor of parental communication with children is one of the factors that affect the level of juvenile delinquency, with an influence rate of about 1.12%.

Multiple Marginality and the Variation in Delinquency and Substance use Among Adolescent Gang Members

Background: Gang membership is a significant contributor to delinquency and violent victimization among adolescents. Yet, there is considerable variability in the extent to which gang members engage in delinquency and substance use, and previous research suggests factors beyond the individual level are important to consider. Objectives: Using the multiple marginality framework, this study examines the factors related to the family, school, and neighborhood contexts that may contribute to delinquency and substance use among current gang members. Methods: Between 2013 and 2015, we conducted quantitative surveys with 449 self-identified gang members between the ages of 14 and 19 years old in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Surveys included measures to assess delinquency, substance use, parental involvement, educational attainment, drug distribution, and police involvement. We ran simple and multiple regressions to assess the relationship between family, school, and neighborhood factors and delinquency and substance use. Results: Regression analyses revealed several significant predictors of delinquency and substance use among adolescent gang members including parental substance use and incarceration, school safety, police contact, and neighborhood disorder. Conclusions: Family and school factors are likely important protective factors against delinquency and substance use among gang members. Interventions at the family and community level may be particularly important in reducing poor health and social outcomes for adolescent gang members.

Pubertal timing and callous-unemotional traits in girls: Associations across two samples from the UK and Cyprus

IntroductionGirls remain an understudied group when examining delinquency. Callous-unemotional traits are chief among personality traits that relate to delinquency. Some suggest, however, that girls who evince callous-unemotional traits delay their delinquent behavior until adolescence. This transitional period encompasses physical factors that relate to engagement in risky decision making, but we don't know how these factors relate to callous-unemotional traits. Early pubertal timing shows positive associations with delinquency; we tested if this was also the case for callous-unemotional traits. MethodsWe tested associations among pubertal timing (i.e., maturity and menarche age), delinquency, and callous-unemotional traits within girls (ages 11–18 years) sampled from two European countries (UK and Cyprus). We also tested the interaction between callous-unemotional traits and pubertal timing in statistically predicting delinquency to test if associations between early puberty and delinquency were moderated by callous-unemotional traits. ResultsGreater callous-unemotional traits were surprisingly negatively related to early pubertal timing. Those girls in the delayed menarche group had the highest level of callous-unemotional traits, higher than the typical and early menarche groups. Only callous-unemotional traits statistically predicted variance in delinquency and no moderation was evident. ConclusionsThe implications are that callous-unemotional traits and the transition to puberty may be particularly important for girls’ adjustment in adolescence, particularly if menarche is delayed allowing girls to avoid punishment by capitalizing on their immaturity.

Social Bonds, Juvenile Delinquency, and Korean Adolescents

Social bonds theory is one of the most influential and tested perspectives for explaining juvenile delinquency, yet tests have often been methodologically limited. Prior research has failed to examine how intra- and interindividual variation in social bonding influences delinquency. In addition, there are few applications of this theory to non-Western contexts. Thus, the current study attempts to test the cross-cultural generalizability of social bonds theory and overcome weaknesses of prior research. We use longitudinal panel analyses and five waves of data from the Korean Youth Panel Survey to examine the influence of nine measures of social bonding on delinquent behavior. By estimating different panel models, we find some support for social bonds as indicators of within- and between-individual variation in delinquency. Specifically, the emphasis on education in Korea and the role of parents in supervising their children play an integral role in reducing the delinquency of Korean youth.

Predictors of delinquency among adolescents and young adults: A new psychosocial control perspective

The present study examined whether a new psychosocial control model of youth problem behaviours, including additional variables of sensation seeking and peer risk-taking behaviour, could be expanded to explain delinquency in early and mid-late adolescence, and emerging early- and mid-young adulthood. We also explored the possible mediating role of peer risk-taking behaviours on conventional social control risk factors of parent attachment, school connectedness, and perceived seriousness of risk-taking behaviours with delinquency. Using a recently updated Australian self-report delinquency measure that can capture undetected antisocial behaviour among both adolescents and adults, a sample of 329 secondary school students (age groups 13–14 and 15–17, 50.6% female) and 334 university students (age groups 18–20 and 21–24, 68.4% female) in Canberra, Australia participated. The new psychosocial control model explained variance in delinquency with medium to large effect sizes, and beyond the original psychosocial control variables in all four age cohorts. Peer risk-taking behaviour explained the largest proportion of variance across all four age groups; its mediating role was partially supported. Impulsivity predicted delinquency among 13–20 years olds as did sensation seeking among 15–24 years olds, suggesting different, yet overlapping influences on developmental trajectories of delinquency.

Examining the Genetic and Environmental Influences on Self-Control and Delinquency

The Child and Young Adult Supplement of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (CNLSY) has been used extensively within criminology. A significant amount of criminological research, for example, has explored various issues related to the correlates, causes, and consequences associated with levels of self-control and delinquent involvement. The overwhelming majority of these CNLSY studies, however, have not accounted for the potential effects of genetic factors on these two widely studied criminological variables and thus the findings generated from previous empirical work may be inaccurate due to genetic confounding. The current study partially addresses this possibility by analyzing a sample of kinship pairs nested within the CNLSY. Analyses of these data revealed that genetic factors accounted for between 51% and 92% of the variance in levels of self-control and between 30% and 41% of the variance in delinquency. We discuss the implications of these results for interpreting findings from the large body of existing research using the CNLSY.

Ethnic variation in delinquency among adolescents: Risk and protective factors

Ethnic variation in delinquency among adolescents: Risk and protective factors

Classification cost: An empirical comparison among traditional classifier, Cost-Sensitive Classifier, and MetaCost

Loan fraud is a critical factor in the insolvency of financial institutions, so companies make an effort to reduce the loss from fraud by building a model for proactive fraud prediction. However, there are still two critical problems to be resolved for the fraud detection: (1) the lack of cost sensitivity between type I error and type II error in most prediction models, and (2) highly skewed distribution of class in the dataset used for fraud detection because of sparse fraud-related data. The objective of this paper is to examine whether classification cost is affected both by the cost-sensitive approach and by skewed distribution of class. To that end, we compare the classification cost incurred by a traditional cost-insensitive classification approach and two cost-sensitive classification approaches, Cost-Sensitive Classifier (CSC) and MetaCost. Experiments were conducted with a credit loan dataset from a major financial institution in Korea, while varying the distribution of class in the dataset and the number of input variables. The experiments showed that the lowest classification cost was incurred when the MetaCost approach was used and when non-fraud data and fraud data were balanced. In addition, the dataset that includes all delinquency variables was shown to be most effective on reducing the classification cost.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms are Associated with the Frequency and Severity of Delinquency Among Detained Boys

Trauma and posttraumatic stress symptoms increasingly are recognized as risk factors for involvement with the juvenile justice system, and detained youth evidence higher rates of trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to their nondetained peers. Using a sample of 83 detained boys aged 12 to 17, we tested the hypothesis that degree of PTSD symptomatology would be positively associated with arrest frequency and delinquency severity. Results indicated that 95% of participants had experienced trauma, and 20% met criteria for Full or Partial PTSD. As predicted, severity of PTSD symptoms was associated with degree of delinquency, and this effect remained present for the past year delinquency variables after controlling for the total number of traumas reported.

Examining Associations Between Narcissism, Behavior Problems, and Anxiety in Non-Referred Adolescents

The present study examined associations between narcissism (total, adaptive, and maladaptive), self-esteem, and externalizing and internalizing problems in 157 non- referred adolescents (aged 14 to 18). Consistent with previous research, narcissism was positively associated with self-reported delinquency, overt aggression, and relational aggression. Maladaptive narcissism showed unique positive associations with aggression and delinquency variables, while adaptive narcissism showed unique negative associations with anxiety symptoms. In general, self-esteem was negatively related to internalizing and externalizing problems. An interaction effect was observed for self-esteem and narcissism in predicting overt aggression. Specifically, at high levels of self-esteem narcissism was significantly associated with overt aggression, whereas it was not at low levels of self- esteem. The current results add to the growing body of research on the role of narcissism in the development of adjustment problems in youth.

Bullying and delinquency. The mediating role of anger

The principal aim of the study was to examine the relationship between bullying, both studying those who bully and those who are victims of bullying, and non-violent delinquency (i.e., theft and burglary). We used structural equation modelling, while controlling for sex of participants, family structure and parental education, to examine the relationship between bullying and bully victimisation and delinquent behaviour, and whether this association is mediated through anger. The data for the analysis were drawn from a cross-sectional, population-based sample of 7149 15- and 16-year-old adolescents in Iceland. Results revealed that: (1) bullying behaviour and bully victimisation both increased the likelihood of delinquent behaviour, but the effects were significantly stronger for bullying behaviour than bully victimisation, explaining 40% and 30% of the variance in delinquency, respectively; and (2) the association between bullying behaviour and bully victimisation and delinquent behaviour was in both groups partly mediated through anger. The findings support Agnew’s revised general strain theory that emotions such as anger are important in delinquency.

The associations of adolescent invulnerability and narcissism with problem behaviors

This study examined the correlations between invulnerability, narcissism, self-esteem, delinquency, and aggression in a sample of at-risk adolescents. Participants were 213, 16–18 year-olds (169 male, 44 female). As expected, narcissism and invulnerability were related to delinquency and aggression. However, maladaptive narcissism predicted unique variance in delinquency and relational aggression. A negative effect for self-esteem emerged for predicting delinquency when controlling for narcissism and perceived invulnerability. The distributions of narcissism and invulnerability indicated that these constructs may not, as a rule, be elevated in such youth. Some preliminary implications for the role of these variables in adolescent problem behaviors are presented.

The Relationship Between Parenting and Delinquency: A Meta-analysis

This meta-analysis of 161 published and unpublished manuscripts was conducted to determine whether the association between parenting and delinquency exists and what the magnitude of this linkage is. The strongest links were found for parental monitoring, psychological control, and negative aspects of support such as rejection and hostility, accounting for up to 11% of the variance in delinquency. Several effect sizes were moderated by parent and child gender, child age, informant on parenting, and delinquency type, indicating that some parenting behaviors are more important for particular contexts or subsamples. Although both dimensions of warmth and support seem to be important, surprisingly very few studies focused on parenting styles. Furthermore, fewer than 20% of the studies focused on parenting behavior of fathers, despite the fact that the effect of poor support by fathers was larger than poor maternal support, particularly for sons. Implications for theory and parenting are discussed.

Gene—Environment Interplay and Delinquent Involvement

Behavioral genetic research has revealed that biogenic factors play a role in the development of antisocial behaviors. Much of this research has also explicated the way in which the environment and genes may combine to create different phenotypes. The authors draw heavily from this literature and use data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine genetic and environmental effects on adolescent delinquent involvement. The results of the multivariate models reveal that genetic factors have a direct effect on youthful misconduct. Most important, however, is that genetic factors interact with delinquent peers and with low self-control to predict variation in delinquency. Analysis of the Add Health data also provide evidence suggesting that there is a shared genetic pathway to delinquent involvement, to antisocial peer group formation, and to the development of low self-control.

Delinquency and reputational orientations of adolescent at‐risk and not‐at‐risk males and females

This research investigated differences in delinquent activities and the reputational orientations of at‐risk and not‐at‐risk male and female adolescents. Initially, we sought to establish that adolescent males and females differed in these respects. This was found to be the case: males (n = 722) scored significantly higher than females (n = 738) on seven self‐reported delinquency variables and on eight reputation enhancement variables pertaining to social deviance, non‐conforming reputation, and power/evaluation private identity. When a sample of 31 at‐risk females was subsequently pair‐wise age matched with 31 not‐at‐risk females, at‐risk females scored significantly higher on all delinquency variables other than school misdemeanors. These at‐risk females also scored significantly higher on four reputation enhancement variables relating to social deviance and non‐conformity. Given that at‐risk females did not differ from their not‐at‐risk counterparts in level of involvement in school misdemeanors, we sought to determine whether this was also the case for at‐risk and not‐at‐risk males. An age‐matched sample of 91 pairs revealed that at‐risk males reported significantly higher involvement than not‐at‐risk males in all aspects of delinquency, including school misdemeanors. They also sought a more non‐conforming reputation. To explore the relationships between delinquency and reputation enhancement, a canonical correlation analysis was performed. All findings are discussed in the light of reputation enhancement theory.

Sex differences in the causes of self-reported adolescent delinquency.

Sex differences in the causes of self-reported adolescent delinquency were examined in full and half siblings born to a nationally representative sample of women in the United States. Qualitative sex differences in the genes that influence delinquency were not detected. Similarly, the proportions of variance in both aggressive and nonaggressive delinquency attributable to genetic and environmental influences did not differ significantly between girls and boys. Nonetheless, total variance in delinquency was greater among boys, and a scalar sex-differences model suggested that genetic and environmental influences on delinquency have less effect on population variation in delinquency among girls. Similarly, a test of the polygenic multiple threshold model suggested that girls require greater causal liability for the expression of delinquency than boys.

Delinquency as a mediator of the relation between negative affectivity and adolescent alcohol use disorder

This investigation examined mediators of the longitudinal relation between negative affectivity and the development of problematic drinking behavior in adolescent boys and girls. In the present study, 499 early adolescents completed inventories of negative affectivity, attitudes toward delinquency, personal delinquency, and affiliation with delinquent peers. Positive attitudes toward delinquency emerged as the most consistent mediator and strongly predicted drinking frequency in various situations. Compared with personal delinquency, both attitudes toward delinquency and peer delinquency were superior predictors of affect-related drinking. Our results also demonstrated that positive attitudes toward delinquency mediated the relation between negative affectivity and later development of an alcohol use disorder. These findings suggest that a proneness to unpleasant affect impacts adolescent drinking by heightening risk for general rejection of normative behavior, rather than by increasing drinking as a means of managing affect. The importance and implications of testing delinquency variables together in the same model are discussed.

Gender Differences in the Effects of Strain on the Delinquency of South Korean Youth

General strain theory (GST) was tested as an explanation of violent and status offense delinquency of South Korean girls and boys. One research objective was to determine whether Korean girls and boys differed in their experience of each type of strain and in the levels of conditioning effects that might moderate the connections of strain to delinquency. Another objective was to identify gender differences in the effects of different types of strain, conditioning effects, and interaction terms (Strains × Conditioning factors) on delinquency. Finally, the study compared girls and boys on the amount of variance in delinquency that main and interaction effects explained. For both gender groups, the interaction of abuse by teachers and having delinquent peers stood out as the key predictor of violent and status offending.