Abstract:

Current study runs five different multiple regression models to analyze the data belongs to 180 students from 25 different secondary schools in Kars. The study examines the determinants of juvenile delinquency and differences in patterns of youth delinquency across different genders. Findings indicated that deviant peers, poor parental care and weak academic attachment/performance are the significant determinants of increased delinquency. Contrary to expectations, parents' level of education is found to have positive relationship with delinquency. As for the patterns of youth delinquency across different genders, some common cahracteristics are observed as well as interesting differences. Unlike the complete model, analysis examining only the boys demonstrated that deviant peers have notably the greatest impact on male de- linquency while parental care remains under the significance threshold. The models examining only the girls on the other hand, indicated that parental care has relatively stronger impact on female delinquency compared to deviant peers. Furthermore unlike with the boys, the girls are significantly more likely to engage in delinquency as they have a better wellfare status.

Keywords: