The Effect of Temperament on Juvenile Delinquent Behavior.
- Author:
Jae Won YANG
1
;
Il Suk NOH
;
Sungdo HONG
;
Ji Hae KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jihk@smc.samsung.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Juvenile delinquency;
Delinquent behavior;
Temperament;
Emotion
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Anxiety;
Depression;
Female;
Humans;
Juvenile Delinquency;
Male;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Temperament*;
Weights and Measures
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2005;44(3):350-356
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the temperament and character of juvenile delinquents, and to explore the effect of those factors on juvenile delinquent behavior. METHODS: 128 male and 29 female juvenile delinquents on probation, and 66 male and 69 female students in the 10th and the 11th grade, completed Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), anxiety, depression scales and Latent Delinquency Questionnaire. RESULTS: Male juvenile delinquents showed significantly higher 'novelty seeking', and lower 'harm avoidance' and 'persistence' in JTCI subscales, compared to normal control group. Stepwise multiple-regression analysis showed that 'novelty seeking' and 'harm avoidance' were significantly predicting juvenile delinquent behavior. In the case of the female adolescents, delinquent group was significantly lower 'harm avoidance' than normal groups, and stepwise multiple regression analysis showed 'self-transcendence' was the only significant predicting variable for juvenile delinquent behavior. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, temperament was related to the juvenile delinquent behavior especially for male delinquent adolescents.
