Explaining Long-Term Trajectories in Youth Delinquency: Evidence From Survey and Register Data

Abstract

This study examines survey-based and register-based trends in youth delinquency, namely theft and assault, in Finland over the past two decades. Our survey data includes data from five measuring points between 2004 and 2020. Our register data includes all individuals born in Finland between 1986 and 2000 who were alive and who were residing in Finland at the end of 2000. Survey findings indicate that changing routine activities in the form of declining risk routines, truancy, and alcohol consumption were the notable factors behind the declining trends in youth delinquency. With register data, maternal education appears to be the strongest contributor to the observed change, followed by maternal age. Overall, our finding emphasizes changes in the everyday activities of adolescents.