A study of deviant behaviour among China's left‐behind children

The impact of strain, social control and learning

Bibliographic Data

ID6417877
AuthorsXiaohong Jin (0009-0003-9918-446X, School of Sociology Central China Normal University Wuhan Hubei China), Wei Chen (0000-0002-9419-148X, School of Philosophy Zhongnan University of Economics and Law Wuhan Hubei China, corresponding author), Yuning Wu (0000-0002-2699-4790, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Wayne State University Detroit Michigan USA)
Year2023
Volume30
Issue2
Pages166-177
Publication date2023-09-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChild & Family Social Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1356-7500 • E-ISSN: 1365-2206
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/cfs.13085
OpenAlexW4386713845
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited79

This study aims to examine the effects of strain, social control and learning variables on the likelihood of deviant behaviour among left‐behind children (thereafter LBC) and non‐left‐behind children (thereafter NLBC) in China. A cross‐sectional survey study was conducted among 380 LBC and 656 NLBC in elementary and middle schools in three cities of Hubei Province, China. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess whether LBC and NLBC differ in deviant behaviour and three main groups of correlates of deviance that reflect strain, social control and learning. LBC were less likely than NLBC to commit deviant behaviour. LBC with greater family attachment and school bond were less likely to engage in deviance, whereas NLBC with more academic difficulty and bullying victimization were more inclined to conduct deviant acts. Having deviant peers increased both LBC's and NLBC's probability of committing deviant behaviour. A combination of factors related to strain, social control and learning theories explains Chinese children's deviance. It is important to promote the healthy development of LBC by enhancing family and school bonds and reducing deviant associations

Bivariate analysis · China · Commit · Developmental psychology · Deviance (statistics · General strain theory · Geography · Juvenile delinquency · Logistic regression · Social control · Sociology · Statistics · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Mathematics · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOI