Self-reported delinquent behavior and psychosocial functioning in inner-city teenagers: a brief report

Evaluated psychosocial characteristics of inner-city ninth graders exceeding a cutoff for clinically significant delinquent behaviors (n = 27), as compared to youth whose self-reported delinquent behaviors fell below this cutoff (n = 136). Youth reporting high levels of delinquent behavior reported more life stress, depression and anxiety, lower self-concept, and less cohesive families than other students. Females reporting high levels of delinquent behavior were more likely to have poor classroom and school attendance than other females; this relationship did not hold for males.