General Strain Theory As a Basis for the Design of School Interventions. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moon, Byongook; Morash, Merry
• Is Part Of: Crime and delinquency. Volume 59:Number 6(2013)
• Page Start: 886
• Page End: 909
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: general strain theory -- key strains -- delinquency -- school intervention; Crime -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile delinquency -- United States -- Periodicals; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0011128712466949
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-1287

Abstract

The research described in this article applies general strain theory to identify possible points of intervention for reducing delinquency of students in two middle schools. Data were collected from 296 youths, and separate negative binomial regression analyses were used to identify predictors of violent, property, and status delinquency. Emotional punishment by teachers and youths' prior victimization are significant predictors of delinquency. Strained youths are especially likely to commit various delinquent behaviors if they associate with delinquent peers, while they are less likely to be involved in violent and property-related delinquency if they report a positive relationship with parents. The findings suggest the need for programmatic attention to youths' criminal victimization and teachers' use of emotional punishment as well as youths' relations with parents and involvement with delinquent peers in the two schools studied.