The prediction of criminal recidivism in male juvenile delinquents

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated a strong association of criminal behavior of juvenile delinquents with delinquents’ personality traits and family interactions. However, little is known about the extent to which family interactions and personality traits are associated with criminal recidivism. The present study aimed to examine these relationships, using the Velikih pet plus dva (Big Five Plus Two) – short version (assessing Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Aggressiveness, Positive Valence, Negative Valence), The Quality of Family Interaction Scale (Satisfaction with family, Mother and Father Acceptance/Rejection), and official data from criminal records. The study included 61 institutionalized delinquents and 64 non-delinquents, 15 to 18 years of age. Neuroticism, Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Negative valence, acceptance by father and rejection by mother are statistically significant predictors of criminal recidivism in juvenile delinquents. Delinquents showed higher Neuroticism, lower Conscientiousness and acceptance by mother compared to non-delinquents. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 179002]

Keywords

• juvenile delinquents
• criminal recidivism
• prediction
• personality traits
• family interaction