The Influence of Psychosocial Maturity on Adolescent Offenders' Delinquent Behavior
Authors
Cruise, Keith R.Fernandez, Krissie
McCoy, Wendy K.
Guy, Laura S.
Colwell, Lori H.
Douglas, Tanisha R.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of PsychiatryDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2008-04-01Keywords
Juvenile DelinquencyAdolescent Behavior
Violence
Adolescent
Health Services Research
Mental and Social Health
Psychiatric and Mental Health
Psychiatry
Psychiatry and Psychology
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Prior research has demonstrated the predictive utility of psychosocial maturity in understanding adolescents' decison making regarding antisocial behaviors and other legal decisions. This study investigated the influence of psychosocial maturity on adolescent offenders' self-report of delinquent behaviors over a 12-month time period. A total sample of 136 male and female juvenile offenders were recruited from two juvenile justice settings. Consistent with prior research, results indicated significant correlations between psychosocial maturity variables and self-reported delinquent behavior with the current results revealing a moderating effect of gender on these associations. Separate regression analyses were conducted for male and female juvenile offenders. After controlling for age and setting, the psychosocial maturity variable of temperance consistently predicted self-reported total, violent, and nonviolent delinquency for boys.Source
Keith R. Cruise, Krissie Fernandez, Wendy K. McCoy, Laura S. Guy, Lori H. Colwell, Tanisha R. Douglas. The Influence of Psychosocial Maturity on Adolescent Offenders' Delinquent Behavior. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice April 2008 6: 178-194, doi:10.1177/1541204007313229DOI
10.1177/1541204007313229Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/45235ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1177/1541204007313229