CORRELATES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AMONG JAILED DELINQUENTS IN GONDAR, ETHIOPIA

Authors

  • Daniel Sewasew Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
  • Selamawit Kassa Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Gondar, Ethiopia.
  • Gebeyehu Abate Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Gondar, Ethiopia.
  • Mengesha Shebabaw Lecturer at the Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Gondar, Ethiopia.
  • Hone Mandefero Lecturer at the Department of Social Work, College of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Gondar, Ethiopia.
  • Yemataw Wondie Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Gondar, Ethiopia.

Keywords:

correlates, juvenile delinquency, jailed delinquents, Gondar Correction Center.

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships among neighborhood condition, school problems,
parent adolescent communication, peer relation and religiosity on juvenile delinquency.
Self-reported questionnaires were collected from 107 juvenile delinquents aged 11-18
years. Six standardized instruments of Amharic versions were administered. The rate of
juvenile delinquency was significantly and positively correlated with the neighborhood
condition, school problems, poor family communication, and peer relation. Negative
significant relationships were also observed between juvenile delinquency and religiosity
and open family communication. All variables together accounted for 88.6 % of the
explained variance. More specifically, the strongest influence was from neighborhood
condition followed by open family communication and school problems. The paper
concludes that to tackle delinquent behavior proactive interventions are essential at family,
school and community levels.

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Published

2021-02-13

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2015): The Ethiopian Renaissance Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Section

Articles