Abstract
Purpose: The current study tested the applicability of self-control theory in Roma adolescents, one of the largest ethnic minorities in Europe; it compared mean levels in deviance measures and correlates (parenting and low self-control) in Roma versus non-Roma Czech youth. Methods: Questionnaire data were collected from Roma (n=239, 47.5% female, Mage=14.02) and non-Roma (n=130, 47.7% female, Mage=14.71) adolescents residing in the Czech Republic. Measures included maternal parenting processes, low self-control, and deviance (alcohol use, school misconduct, and theft). Results: Findings from SEM analyses provided evidence that perceived maternal support predicted lower deviance both directly and indirectly via low self-control, while perceived maternal conflict predicted lower self-control and higher deviance. No differences were found between Roma and non-Roma adolescents in mean deviance scores or in the links between parenting, low self-control, and deviance. Conclusion: Roma adolescents did not differ from ethnic Czech adolescents in rates of deviance or the developmental processes focused on age-appropriate indicators of deviance. Thus, this evidence further extends the reach of Gottfredson and Hirschi's seminal theoretical work to ethnic minorities outside of North America.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 66-76 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Criminal Justice |
Volume | 44 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords
- Cross-cultural
- Deviance
- Parenting
- Roma
- Romani
- Self-control
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Applied Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science
- Law