A study of risk factor complexes in early adolescent delinquency

A study was undertaken to document the existence of multiple forms of risk among a sample of 53 delinquents between the ages of 11 and 16 years. When compared with an age-matched comparison group from the same region, the delinquent youngsters were far more likely to show clusters of vulnerability in the areas studied (medical, neurodevelopmental, educational, behavioral, socioeconomic status, family disruption, and cognitive). When cluster analysis was applied to the delinquent group, three subgroups emerged sharing certain traits and accounting for 70% of the cohort. The early identification of so-called risk factor complexes may be helpful in the prevention of delinquency.