The relationship between dimensional self-concept and juvenile gang involvement: implications for prevention, intervention, and court referred diversion programs.
In this investigation we assessed 427 youths from an area with considerable gang activity to determine the way in which self-concept is related to gang involvement, and to assess how gang involvement fluctuates as a function of gender and grade level. Product moment correlations revealed a significant negative association between gang involvement and the self-concept dimensions of competence, affect, academic, family, and global; however, only the relationship with competence self-concept remained significant after adjusting for alpha inflation. Discriminant analysis revealed a significant predictive relationship between self-concept and classification into high or low gang-involved groups. Males were found to be significantly more gang involved than females, but no differences were found by grade level (although a significant gender by grade interaction was present). Implications for field-based prevention/intervention efforts and court referred diversion programs are discussed.
Herrmann
D S
DS
Arizona State University, Division of Psychology in Education, Tempe 85287-0611, USA.
McWhirter
J J
JJ
Sipsas-Herrmann
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires