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The Effects of Strain and Centrality of Strain on Delinquency among Chinese Adolescents *
Author(s) -
Liu Ruth X.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.2012.00427.x
Subject(s) - general strain theory , centrality , juvenile delinquency , salient , china , strain (injury) , psychology , interpersonal communication , social psychology , developmental psychology , political science , medicine , mathematics , combinatorics , law
This study assesses the moderating effects of importance placed on strained domains (i.e., centrality of strain) on the relationship between strain and delinquent participation among Chinese adolescents. Regression analyses of data on 1,735 middle school students from Fuzhou City, China, yield results quite comparable with expectations. Adolescents who report high levels of strain and simultaneously consider these strained domains (i.e., status achievement, interpersonal relations, and personal appearance) as important engage in higher levels of delinquency than those who encounter strain but deem it as less important. The effects of strain and centrality of strain are most salient concerning status achievement. These findings are interpreted in light of China’s cultural setting and policy implications.