Socioeconomic Status, Economic Problems, and Delinquency

Abstract

Research indicates that the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and delinquency is not as strong as suggested by the leading crime theories. This article argues that such theories do not predict that SES in and of itself causes delinquency but rather that the economic problems associated with SES cause delinquency. Such problems include substantial changes in lifestyle due to lack of money and the inability to purchase needed goods and services. Further, it is argued that (a) the relationship between economic problems and delinquency is nonlinear, such that only the experience of several economic problems is associated with higher delinquency, and (b) the relationship between SES and economic problems is only moderate in size. Data from a nationally representative sample of adolescents support these arguments. These data help explain the weak-to-moderate relationship between SES and delinquency, and they direct attention to economic problems as a potentially important cause of delinquency.

Posttraumatic Stress among Youths in Juvenile Detention

“…For example, research suggests that youths involved in gangs are four times more likely to sell drugs and twice as likely to use drugs as peers not involved in gang activity (Gatti et al, 2005). In addition, conflict between family members, poor parenting, and maltreatment can increase delinquent behaviors (Agnew, Matthews, Bucher, Welcher, & Keyes, 2008), resulting in higher incidence of status offending.…”

Educational Pathways and Change in Crime Between Adolescence and Early Adulthood

“…Thus, to the extent that upward educational pathways promote employment opportunities characterized by greater stability and quality, we expect them to be associated with lower crime. Conversely, to the extent that downward educational pathways are associated with economic stressors such as problems paying bills and food insecurity, they may motivate crime (Agnew et al 2008). …”

Adolescent problem behaviour: The gender gap in European perspective

“…Social stress theory emphasizes the stress caused by economic deprivation; strain theory underlines the frustration that arises when young people have insufficient means to achieve culturally valued goals. Both theories regard problem behaviour as a coping mechanism for difficulties caused by economic deprivation within the family home (see, for example, Agnew et al, 2008). Second, low family academic and economic resources are important in predicting adolescent problem behaviour, because they are linked to power-assertive or coercive discipline strategies by parents (Heimer, 1997) and poor parental support and bonding (Galloway and Skarðhamar, 2010;Patterson et al, 1990).…”