Authors: Malin Englaborn, Mika Mörner

Supervisor: Sabina Kapeanovic

Abstract

The study examined the incidence of criminal behavior among adolescents in general and how social and personal resources can act as protection or risk factors in particular and also what differences exist between girls and boys. The survey was conducted on 1324 youths in ninth grade through the LoRDIA projekct. Data was analyzed by t-test, Spearman's correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the strongest predicate of young people's criminal behavior was peer delinquency. Social well-being turned out to be an important personal resource for the girls when it was about predicting criminal behavior and psychological well-being were important for the boys. While overall the results were in line with previous research, some divergent results were also discussed. The study was related to horizon of opportunities and to young people's perception of the educational and career choices they faced. Finally ways for companies and organizations to think and act on the results of the study was suggested.

This research is financed by:

Swedish Research Council, FORTE, VINNOVA, Formas

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