A Multivariate Assessment of a Risk Model for Juvenile Delinquency With An “Under 12 Offender” Sample

Abstract

The predictive validity of a hypothesized model of five factors associated with the development of juvenile delinquency was evaluated with 68 children, ages 6 to 11 years, referred for treatment to a clinic for delinquent behavior. Indicators for the predictors were obtained from information identified in the children's clinical files. The criterion measure, collected from parents 10 months after the pretreatment screening, was the t-score on the Delinquent scale of the Child Behavior Checklist. A stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that aggressiveness and variety of conduct problems accounted for 31% of the variance in delinquent behavior and had the highest relative improvement over chance (RIOC) values. The findings are discussed in terms of practical and policy implications for the early identification of children and youth and the development of early intervention and prevention programs to address the problem of juvenile delinquency.