Abstract:
This research explores the concept of juvenile delinquency under interwoven
psychological, sociological and anthropological milieu. A profile of the juvenile
delinquents was constructed. It also investigated on the dynamics of psychological
variables such as temperament, frustration and moral functioning, sociological variables
such as family dynamics, peer association, social support and cultural variables such as
norms, beliefs, and practices influence that influence juvenile delinquency.
Two types of approaches were used in this study: quantitative and qualitative.
For the quantitative part, a questionnaire was administered to the respondents who
composed 20% of the population. The 56 participants, who were randomly chosen came
from the Manila Youth Reception Center and Molave Youth home-two of three main
youth detention centers in Metro Manila. The instrument employed was Sampang's
Juvenile Delinquency Strain Measure 2010 (SJDSM 2010)- an instrument that the author
has devised himself using exhaustive consultation to related literature. The instrument
was pretested. Validity and reliability were duly established prior to instrument
administration. It was also certified by the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino in UP Manila.
For the quantitative part, in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion ensued
with purposively chosen respondents using themes observed from data analysis of the
quantitative results.
Data analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Science version 17
(SPSS I 7) involved computation of frequencies and measures of central tendencies of the
socio-demographic and strain variables. Bivariate correlations using Pearson r was also
utilized for further analysis. Resulting themes from the qualitative data were also probed
and scrutinized.
The consequential profile garnered and the correlations and strains scored
obtained point to poverty as a main determinant for delinquency. Peer group affiliation
was seen as the main reason for delinquency. Family functioning and family violence
were probable determinants of association with delinquent peers. Also, neighborhood
structure and vices proved to be correlated with delinquency. All of these strains have
been observed to cast pressure on the youth's psyche through stigma. With all these
findings, this research concludes, and in the process verifies its hypothesis, that juvenile
delinquency is influenced by the interplay of psychological, social and cultural variables.
