An Empirical Test of Low Self-Control Theory: Among Hispanic Youth. (January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vera, Eliseo P.; Moon, Byongook
• Is Part Of: Youth violence and juvenile justice. Volume 11:Number 1(2013)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2013-01
• Subjects: low self-control -- parental practice -- delinquency -- Hispanic youth; Youth and violence -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile justice, Administration of -- United States -- Periodicals; Juvenile delinquency -- United States -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Juvenile corrections -- United States -- Periodicals; 364.360973
• DOI: 10.1177/1541204012441628
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1541-2040

Abstract

This study, using a sample of 277 Hispanic youth, examines the generality of Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime in explaining the etiology of delinquency among Hispanic juveniles, especially focusing on the relationships among parental practices, low self-control, and deviant behaviors. The results indicate that low self-control is significantly related to general deviant behaviors, consistent with the theory's prediction. However, the findings show that the theoretically informed measures of parental practices are not significantly related to child levels of self-control. Instead, individual's perception toward levels of community disorder has a significant effect on child levels of self-control. Theoretical implications as well as limitations of the findings are discussed.