| 1. |
- Mahoney, Joseph L., et al.
(author)
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Leisure activities and adolescent antisocial behavior : the role of structure and social context
- 2000
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In: Journal of Adolescence. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0140-1971 .- 1095-9254. ; 23:2, s. 113-127
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The goal of this study was to understand better how the structure and social context of adolescent leisure activities relates to antisocial behavior. A representative sample of 703 Ss (aged 14 yrs) and their parents were assessed concerning adolescent involvement in community-based leisure activities, peer and adult social relations, and antisocial behavior. Results showed that participation in highly structured leisure activities was linked to low levels of antisocial behavior, while participation in activities with low structure (i.e., a youth recreation center) was associated with high levels of antisocial behavior. Overall the results were similar for boys and girls; however, the combination of involvement in a low structured activity and the absence of any highly structured participation appeared especially problematic for boys' antisocial behavior. Participants of low structured activities were also characterized by deviant peer relations and poor parent-child relations, and they received low support from their activity leader compared to adolescents engaged in more structured community activities. Findings are discussed in terms of their implication for prevention research.
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| 2. |
- Mahoney, Joseph L., et al.
(author)
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Youth recreation centre participation and criminal offending : a 20-year longitudinal study of Swedish boys
- 2001
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In: International Journal of Behavioral Development. - : SAGE Publications. - 0165-0254 .- 1464-0651. ; 25:6, s. 509-520
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study assessed whether participation in Swedish youth recreation centres (Fritidsgrdar) is related to long-term criminality assessed from late childhood to mid adulthood. A prospective, longitudinal investigation of a cohort of 498 boys (aged 10-13 yrs) from a Swedish community was employed. A pattern-analysis identified five configurations of boys who showed different profiles of social and academic competence at the age of 10. The configurations were compared with respect to juvenile and adult criminality for boys who did, and who did not, make the decision to participate in a youth recreation centre at age 13. Results showed that participation in youth centres was nonrandom. Boys with a multiple problem profile of both social and academic problems in school at age 10 showed more frequent participation in recreation centres at age 13. The frequency of criminal offending increased for all configurations of boys who became involved in a recreation centre. Frequent participation in youth centres was linked to high rates of juvenile offending and persistent offending (i.e., registered for one or several offences both as a juvenile and as an adult). These findings held after controlling for individual, family, and economic factors prior to youth centre involvement.
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