scholarly journals Victimization, Crime Propensity, and Deviance: A Multinational Test of General Strain Theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 410-430
Author(s):  
Marco Teijón-Alcalá ◽  
Christopher Birkbeck
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Self Report ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Recent Extension

General Strain Theory (GST) identifies victimization as one of the strains most strongly related to crime which, like other sources of strain, is moderated by individual and social factors. Recently, Agnew extended the theorization of coping strategies by proposing that the effects of strain on deviance are conditioned by individual and social factors in combination, rather than singly, which he labeled crime propensity. Tests of the propensity hypothesis have so far yielded mixed results, highlighting the value of additional studies. Whereas previous tests have focused on single countries, either in North America or Asia, we test the propensity hypothesis using data on adolescents in 25 countries collected through the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD3; n = 57,760). A series of ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions show that the relationship between victimization and delinquency/substance use is conditioned by the effects of individuals’ crime propensity, thereby supporting the recent extension to GST.

The Impact of Polyvictimization on Delinquency Among Latino Adolescents: A General Strain Theory Perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (17) ◽  
pp. 2647-2667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Cudmore ◽  
Carlos A. Cuevas ◽  
Chiara Sabina
Keyword(s):  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
Latino Youth ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Latino Adolescents ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Although criminological research has provided support for general strain theory (GST), there is still little known about the relationship between victimization and delinquency among Latino adolescents. This study seeks to fill the gap in the literature by examining the association between a broader measure of victimization (i.e., polyvictimization) and delinquent behavior using data from the Dating Violence Among Latino Adolescents (DAVILA) Study, a national sample of Latino youth. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine two issues: (a) whether polyvictimization is associated with self-reported delinquent behavior and (b) whether anger mediates the relationship between polyvictimization and delinquency. Our findings provided partial support for GST among Latino youth. Specifically, the effect of polyvictimization on delinquency was explained in part by its effect on anger. Contrary to the theory’s hypothesis, the effect of polyvictimization was not conditional on the effect of social support. Overall, findings suggested that GST is a promising framework for understanding the relationship between polyvictimization and delinquency among Latino youth.

“I’m Not a Traditional Woman”: Tranquilizer Misuse as Self-Medication Among Adult Women

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 1562-1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy Brooks Dollar ◽  
Joshua A. Hendrix
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Using Data

Research consistently finds that men use all types of drugs more frequently and extensively than women. However, the misuse of prescription tranquilizers provides an exception. Recent research has found that women are more likely to misuse tranquilizers than men, yet few efforts have been made to systematically understand why this is the case and whether there are gendered factors that might help explain their misuse. Building on general strain theory and other scholarship concerning the links between psychological strain, mental–emotional health, and illicit drug use, we employed a mixed-methods design to investigate the interrelationships between gender, mental health, and tranquilizer misuse. Using data from the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, we examined tranquilizer misuse among women using various social, demographic, and health-related characteristics. Following this, we drew on nine in-depth interviews with adult women aged 21 to 69 years who reported a history of misusing tranquilizers. The quantitative data reveal that the odds of tranquilizer misuse are nearly two times higher for each unit increase on the poor mental health scale. Whereas being married increases the risk of misuse, having young children is associated with a decreased risk. Our analysis of the interview data reveals three main themes, related to tranquilizer access, reasons for misuse, and shame related to misuse. The interviews clearly uncover tranquilizer misuse as an attempt by women to manage competing demands between their work and home lives, and more specifically as a means of promoting success in both devotions. We conclude by arguing that women’s misuse of tranquilizers is a gendered behavior in response to gender-specific strains, which in turn reproduces gendering as an institution as well as in individual lives. The implications of these findings for general strain theory are also discussed.

The Strain From Procedural Injustice on Parolees: Bridging Procedural Justice Theory and General Strain Theory

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Liu ◽  
Christy A. Visher ◽  
Daniel J. O’Connell
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Procedural Justice ◽  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Prisoner Reentry ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Criminal Propensity ◽  
Procedural Injustice ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Using Data

The procedural justice literature explains why people obey the law. However, prior research has largely neglected the implication of procedural justice in the correctional context in general and in parole efficacy in particular. In an attempt to bridge the propositions of procedural justice and general strain theory, this study assesses the effect of parolees’ perceived procedural injustice on their success in reentry. Using data from a longitudinal study of prisoner reentry, we investigate the nexus of procedural injustice, negative emotions, family bonds, and postrelease criminal propensity. Findings indicate that procedural injustice increases criminal propensity, and the negative emotion of depression partially mediates this relationship. We also find parolees’ family bonds totally mediate the effect of procedural injustice on criminal propensity.

scholarly journals Are the Effects of Poverty and Victimization on Criminal Recidivism Mediated by Depression as Predicted by General Strain Theory? A Longitudinal Study of Provincially Sentenced Women

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer E. Newman
Keyword(s):  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Female Offenders ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Criminal Recidivism ◽  
General Strain ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Provincially Sentenced

The current study is a longitudinal analysis of psychosocial factors contributing to re-offending among 125 adult female offenders. Drawing on General Strain Theory (GST), the study examined the role of victimization and poverty on criminal recidivism and investigated whether this relationship was mediated by depression. Regression, survival, and mediational analyses were employed to examine the impact of these variables on criminal recidivism. Findings revealed that using illegal means to make ends meet, and having survived childhood sexual abuse, were particularly important predictors of recidivism for women in the study sample, although depression was not found to significantly mediate the relationship between strain and recidivism. Implications for future research on female recidivism and helping women to stay crime-free are discussed.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Illicit Substance Use: A Temporal-Ordered Test of General Strain Theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Ash-Houchen ◽  
Celia C. Lo
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Illicit Substance ◽  
Illicit Substance Use ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Illicit Use ◽  
Racial Ethnic

This longitudinal study applied general strain theory to elaborate specific stressful events’ lagged effects on risk of illicit substance use among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic adolescents, and relatedly evaluated the moderating role of race/ethnicity in explaining illicit use. Data were drawn from five waves representing 9 years (2002–2010) of the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), totaling 16,868 person-waves, and we engaged temporal ordering and generalized estimating equations (GEE) for panel data in STATA for data analysis. Results showed specific events affected risk of illicit substance use differentially across racial/ethnic groups. Strains commonly encountered in disorganized spaces affected non-Hispanic White’s risk. Measured strains did not affect non-Hispanic Black respondents and findings for Hispanic respondents point to the family as a possible strain. Results indicated legal drug use and depression increased risk of illicit use greatly. Race/ethnicity’s role in illicit use’s associations with several variables illustrates differential implications for racial/ethnic groups in policy and preventive interventions.

Can the General Theory of Crime and General Strain Theory Explain Cyberbullying Perpetration?

2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 674-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Lianos ◽  
Andrew McGrath
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Self Control ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Low Self Control ◽  
The Relationship

Cyberbullying is an increasingly common characteristic of contemporary online communication. The current study surveyed 320 Internet-active young adults and found up to 80% reported engaging in this behavior at least once. In addition, the ability of the general theory of crime and general strain theory to explain cyberbullying perpetration was tested. Evidence for both theories was observed, with both low self-control and higher levels of strain related to cyberbullying perpetration. Furthermore, opportunity (operationalized as moderate and high number of hours online) interacted with low self-control to increase perpetration, and anger partially mediated the relationship between strain and cyberbullying. Implications of the findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Bullying Victimization as a Strain: Examining Changes in Bullying Victimization and Delinquency among Korean Students from a Developmental General Strain Theory Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-65
Author(s):  
Yeoju Park ◽  
Christi Metcalfe
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Harmful Effect ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Bullying Victimization ◽  
Effects Of Bullying ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Bullying Experiences ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Analogous Behavior

Objectives: Using a developmental extension of Agnew’s general strain theory (GST), the current study aims to assess the within-individual associations between bullying victimization and delinquency, as well as the recent versus enduring effects of bullying victimization experiences and the moderating influences of several risk factors. Method: Random effects Tobit models are conducted to examine the relationship between changes in bullying victimization and five forms of delinquency using five waves from the Korean Youth Panel Survey. A measure calculating the duration of consecutive bullying experiences is introduced into these models to capture the enduring effects of this strain, and margins analyses are used to assess moderating influences. Results: There is a positive relationship between experiencing a bullying event and delinquency, and this relationship is stronger at higher levels of risk factors. Moreover, bullying victimization over consecutive years has a consistent harmful effect with regard to analogous behavior and violence and theft, as opposed to a diminishing effect for overall delinquency, substance use, and bullying. Conclusions: While there is support for many of the propositions of GST, there are some inconsistences regarding the duration effects. The findings suggest the need for further assessments of the temporal patterns of strains.

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