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Abstract
The absence of an approach which encompasses several micro-systems in Korea may leave important factors of youth risk behaviors undetected. Thus, an examination of a broad set of ecological factors within the micro-system--including individual characteristics as well as immediate family, peer, and school environments surrounding the youth--that is associated with juvenile theft is warranted. The current study analyzes a rare dataset of 176 youth who were arrested for theft and a matching non-theft sample of 180 youth. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to examine variables related to theft engagement. Higher levels of depression was associated with greater odds of theft behavior when examining psychological factors only. Maternal positive parenting behaviors in the family model and school adjustment in the social model were significantly linked with decreased odds of theft engagement. These results may have important implications for providing counseling and educational services to adolescents arrested for theft. Findings encourage expanding the scope of the currently individual-focused program to consideration of family and school contexts that may be crucial for serving youth with theft experience.
Keywords family, juvenile theft, Korea, psychological factors, school adjustment
References
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Author biographies
DongHun Lee, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. He received a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida, USA. His research interest includes children and adolescents’ mental health issues, especially in a single parent family and ex-offenders’ family.
Yoonsun Han, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Child Psychology and Education at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea. She received a joint doctoral degree in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Her primary area of research includes family, peer, and community factors related to youth mental health and health risk behaviors in various international contexts.
ManSik Park, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at Sungshin Women’s University in South Korea. He received a doctoral degree in Statistics from the North Carolina State University, USA. His research interest includes spatial statistics and linear models.
SeakZoon Roh, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education at Sungshin Women’s University in South Korea. He earned his PhD degree in instructional systems technology from Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. His research interest includes Internet and mobile addiction, higher education, and multicultural education.
