A study of risk factor complexes in early adolescent delinquency
M. D. Levine, W. M. Karniski, J. S. Palfrey, L. J. Meltzer and T. Fenton
A study was undertaken to document the existence of multiple forms of risk
among a sample of 53 delinquents between the ages of 11 and 16 years. When
compared with an age-matched comparison group from the same region, the
delinquent youngsters were far more likely to show clusters of
vulnerability in the areas studied (medical, neurodevelopmental,
educational, behavioral, socioeconomic status, family disruption, and
cognitive). When cluster analysis was applied to the delinquent group,
three subgroups emerged sharing certain traits and accounting for 70% of
the cohort. The early identification of so-called risk factor complexes may
be helpful in the prevention of delinquency.
