Impact of individualism-collectivism on adolescent delinquency

Background/Objectives: Although psychosocial factors have received considerable attention as important predictors of adolescent delinquency, little empirical research has studied how cultural factors influence psychosocial factors for adolescent delinquency. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 male and 240 female middle-school students in the north of China. The individualism-collectivism interpersonal assessment inventory (ICIAI) was used to measure cultural norms and values in the context of three social groups: family members, close friends, and classmates. Results: Compared to boys, girls rated higher levels of the three ICIAI scales, but lower levels of general self-efficacy, peer pressure and delinquency. Path analytic model analysis indicated that, in boys, friend ICIAI was negatively associated with peer pressure and classmate ICIAI had positive association with parent monitor. Peer pressure was positively associated with delinquency. In girls, family ICIAI was positively associated with general self-efficacy and parent monitor. Friend ICIAI had negative association with parent monitor. Classmate ICIAI was negatively associated with peer pressure. Peer pressure was positively associated with delinquency. The three ICIAI scales were positively correlated with each other in both boys and girls. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that the Chinese collectivist culture may influence psychosocial factors of adolescent delinquency. Development of competent prevention and intervention programs for adolescent delinquency should take the collectivist culture into consideration.