مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان (Apr 2017)
The Relationship of Psychological Disorders and Socioeconomic Factors with Juvenile Delinquency
Abstract
Background: Delinquency means occurring actions or behaviors that are against the rules and values of a community. It is believed that knowing factors related to delinquency is the most effective issue for crime prevention. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of psychological disorders and socioeconomic factors with the juvenile delinquency. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 88 young (44 young offenders residing in the correction and rehabilitation center and 44 high-school teenagers aged between 15-18 years). Information on demographic, familial, and socioeconomic factors were collected by a self-made questionnaire and psychological data was gathered using attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD), anxiety, and depression questionnaires. Data was analyzed using chi-square test. Findings: Psychological disorders including anxiety (P < 0.001) and depression (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in offenders compared to non-offenders. The proportion of those who had a history of away from home (P = 0.001), drug abuse (P < 0.001), divorce in parents (P < 0.001), delinquency in family (P < 0.0001), physical punishment (P = 0.032), drug abuse in family (P = 0.001), having an offender friend (P = 0.002), and aggression (P = 0.004) in offenders was significantly higher. The educational level of participants (P < 0.001) and their parents (P = 0.037), and family income (P = 0.001) were lower in offenders. Independent and significant associations between drug abuse and anxiety with juvenile delinquency were observed in logistic regression model. Conclusion: Psychological disorders, familial factors, cultural level, and socioeconomic status were associated with juvenile delinquency. In addition to these factors, individual behaviors such as drug abuse and anxiety were very important factors in occurrence of juvenile delinquency and appropriate interventions in this issue are recommended.
