2. Bullying & Juvenile Delinquency
Bullying and juvenile delinquency are prevalent issues across the world.
Research has proven the causes of these issues, as well as solutions and
treatment options for the aggressors and their victims.
3. Bullying & Juvenile Delinquency
A teenager’s stress level, use/abuse of substances, or having a dysfunctional
family are symptoms of delinquency. In addition, children with low self-esteem,
caused by such issues, are often bullies.
“Low self-esteem ranks among the strongest predictors of emotional and
behavioral problems. Compared to people with high self-esteem, people with
low self-esteem tend to be more anxious, depressed, lonely, jealous, shy, and
generally unhappy” (Haupt, Leary & Schreindorfer, 1995).
4. Bullying & Juvenile Delinquency
It can be argued that juveniles are exposed to bullying and delinquent behavior
from their peers, as well as from observations in their homes and surrounding
communities. Such observations encourage such behaviors.
Furthermore, statistics show that children who have fathers “. . . with a history
of incarceration increases [the children’s] risks of delinquency, criminality,
incarceration, and other problem behaviors” (Wildeman, 2010).
Children with an incarcerated parent may undergo therapy to deal with the loss
of their parent, but when the parent returns and the child is back in his or her
old environment, then he or she slips back into his or her old ways.
5. Bullying & Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile delinquency can occur in both males and females, but males tend to
be more aggressive in their delinquent acts. The United States Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention developed a list of factors which
place teenage girls at a greater risk of delinquency:
“1) Need for physical safety: challenged by poverty, violence,
inadequate health care, and substance abuse
2) Need for trust, love, and validation from caring adults: challenged
by family dysfunction and abandonment
3) Need for positive role model: challenged by sexist, racist
messages, and lack of community support
4) Need to belong, to feel competent and worthy: challenged by
weakened family ties, negative peer influences, and academic
failure” (Cummings, et al, 2001).
6. Bullying & Juvenile Delinquency
A research study conducted in Canada discovered that adolescent girls were in
fewer physical fights than boys and did not carry weapons as often as boys.
But, when the girls did carry a weapon, they were more likely to fight physically.
Additionally, “both maternal and paternal verbal and physical aggression were
significantly related to daughters’ aggression at home and with peers. Negative
communication styles by parents, parental rejection, or low parental support
were also related to adolescent girls’ aggression” (Cummings, et al, 2001).
7. Bullying & Juvenile Delinquency
Research has shown that sexual minority youth, including gays, lesbians, and
bisexuals, experienced more peer abuse than other youth. However, the
research pointed out that the abuse did not cause the youths’ sexual
orientation, the abuse was a result of such orientation.
Kids who are bullied, regardless of whether they are of the sexual minority, “. .
.are more likely to experience poor school performance, delinquency, social
isolation, psychological and substance abuse problems, and other issues. . .”
(NewsRx Health & Science, 2011).
8. Bullying & Juvenile Delinquency
Poor mental health and poor role models are two of the biggest factors with
bullying and delinquency, and it is important for mental health professionals to
coordinate with a child’s family, school, and law enforcement to provide
guidance and protection to that child and those around them.
Some schools have programs that are implemented by the school counselors
to focus on peer victimization. “. . . School counselors might consider inviting
participation in counseling groups that focus on fostering alliances and creating
friendships, which buffer [children] against aggressive acts” (Blake, D’Esposito
& Riccio, 2011).
9. Bullying & Juvenile Delinquency
Without the efforts of positive role models and the
enforcement of consequences for negative
behaviors, bullying and delinquency will prevail
and society will continue its downward spiral.
Change must be put into effect by action, and the
time for change is now.
10. REFERENCES
Anonymous. 2011. Bullying; Study suggests link between childhood bullying and adult intimate partner violence
perpetration. NewsRx Health & Science, 3162.
Anonymous. 2011. Public Health; Pitt Study: Gay, lesbian, bisexual youth bullied, abused more often than peers.
NewsRx Health & Science, 173.
Anonymous. 2011. Snoring; Kids who bully, are aggressive are twice as likely to have sleep problems. NewsRx Health
& Science, 351.
Barrett, David; Hsu, Hsien-Yuan; Ju, Song; Katsiyannis, Antonis and Zhang, Dalun. 2011. Adolescents with Disabilities
in the Juvenile Justice System: Patterns of Recidivism. Council for Exceptional Children, 77, (3), 283-298.
Blake, Jamilia; D’Esposito, Susan E. and Riccio, Cynthia A. 2011. Adolescents’ Vulnerability to Peer Victimization:
Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Predictors. Professional School Counseling, 14, (5), 299-309.
Cummings, Anne L.; Cunningham, Alison; Leschied, Alan W.; Saunders, Angela and Michelle Van Brunschot. (2001).
Aggression in adolescent girls: Implicatios for policy, prevention, and treatment. Canadian Psychology, 42, (3),
200-215.
Haupt, Alison L.; Leary, Mark R. and Schreindorfer, Lisa S. 1995. The Role of Low Self-Esteem in Emotional and
Behavioral Problems: Why is Low Self-Esteem Dysfunctional? Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 14, (3),
297-314.
Killias, Martin and Lucia, Sonia. 2011. Is animal cruelty a marker of interpersonal violence and delinquency? Results of
a Swiss National Self-Report study. Psychology of Violence, 1, (2), 93-105.
Oka, Tatushi. 2009. Juvenile crime and punishment: evidence from Japan. Applied Economics, 41, 3103-3115.
Wildeman, Christopher. 2010. Paternal Incarceration and Children’s Physically Aggressive Behaviors: Evidence from
the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Social Forces, 89, (1), 285-310.
