The relationship between dimensional self-concept and juvenile gang involvement: implications for prevention, intervention, and court referred diversion programs
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Published on: March 1, 2019
D S Herrmann1, J J McWhirter, A Sipsas-Herrmann
1Arizona State University, Division of Psychology in Education, Tempe 85287-0611, USA.
Abstract:
In this investigation we assessed 427 youths from an area with considerable gang activity to determine the way in which self-concept is related to gang involvement, and to assess how gang involvement fluctuates as a function of gender and grade level. Product moment correlations revealed a significant negative association between gang involvement and the self-concept dimensions of competence, affect, academic, family, and global; however, only the relationship with competence self-concept remained significant after adjusting for alpha inflation. Discriminant analysis revealed a significant predictive relationship between self-concept and classification into high or low gang-involved groups. Males were found to be significantly more gang involved than females, but no differences were found by grade level (although a significant gender by grade interaction was present). Implications for field-based prevention/intervention efforts and court referred diversion programs are discussed.
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