학업중단청소년 비행에 관한 소년비행론의 상대적 영향력 검증

Abstract

This study aims to focus on the collective uniqueness of why adolescents who have dropped out of school and stepped outside, not those raised in general environments, experience delinquency. By applying major juvenile delinquency theories such as social bond theory, social learning theory, and general strain theory, the study intends to confirm their relative influence on delinquency. The data used for the study were taken from the 5th-year data of 'Customized Measures Study According to School Dropout Adolescents' Transition Pathways (4th-5th)' conducted by National Youth Policy Institute. Looking at the descriptive analysis results for major variables, it was confirmed that male adolescents had more experiences with delinquency than females. There were significant differences in smoking and pornography viewing experiences between genders. Males did not have any theft experiences while females showed distant behaviors from physical violence such as assault, extortion, and property damage; thus confirming gender differences in delinquent behaviors. However regardless of gender, alcohol consumption, smoking and pornography viewing were found to be common types of offenses committed with no instances of drug inhalation reported. Also in a group comparison regarding independent variables it was revealed that female adolescents put more effort into studies or jobs than males; male adolescents' friends had higher tendencies towards delinquency; they experienced more negative events when failing to achieve goals; and had more experiences of neglect or abuse from parents. Regression analysis conducted in two stages was used to verify the influence of juvenile delinquency theories. Each theory's independent influence was checked by controlling for gender before conducting regression analysis per theory. The explanatory power of general strain theory turned out highest at 6.2%, followed by social bond theory at 3.9% and social learning theory at 2.7%. It has been confirmed that these two theories other than general strain theory show low explanatory power for school dropout adolescents' delinquency. In summary it is indicated that dropout adolescents are more likely to commit offenses if they have many failed attempts at achieving personal goals; if they have many instances where they've been neglected by parents; if there are many friends who've also dropped out amongst their close friends; if attachment relationships with parents are low; or if they're male in particular. Also among Korea's representative theories on adolescent delinquency - social bond theory, social learning theory and general strain - it has been confirmed that the best explanation for dropouts' cause of committing offenses is given by general strain theory especially pointing out failure in achieving goals as a main cause.