Juvenile delinquency is an important health and social concern. Students from preparatory, vocational and alternative schools were compared to identify factors that influence adolescent juvenile delinquency. Respondents were high school students (N=890) in Seoul, Korea. Survey items were categorized through factor analysis and  Lisrel was used for analysis.

Delinquency behaviors were higher in alternative schools than in other schools. Adolescents that had parents with higher levels of education and higher GPA were less likely to have delinquent behaviors.

Among students in alternative schools, self-control (gamma= -.289) was the strongest psychological factor to control delinquency behaviors following self efficacy of health behavior (gamma= -.188) and self expression (gamma= -.142). On the other hand, self efficacy of health behavior was the most influential factor among preparatory and vocational school students. However, among preparatory school students, self-control was not related to delinquency behaviors, but lower self-efficacy of health behavior (gamma= -.379), and lower GPA (gamma= -.215) were significantly associated with juvenile delinquency. Students of the vocational schools were more likely to have delinquency behaviors when they had lower self-control (gamma = -.220) and lower ability of self expression (gamma= -.239). Parents expressing concern about their adolescents' health was significantly related to juvenile delinquency in alternative school students, but not among other school students. This finding implicates that parent concerns are important to reduce delinquencies in alternative school students.

Students in three types of schools have different psychological factors that lead to delinquent behaviors, so tailored education and intervention programs are essential.