Strain and Opportunity Structures

Traditional strain theory received substantial empirical attention for a prolonged period of time, but it currently occupies a marginal position in criminology. Efforts to revitalize and elaborate it have occurred under the rubric of Agnew's general strain theory. These theories share a focus o...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. VerfasserIn: Hoffmann, John P. (VerfasserIn)
Beteiligte: Ireland, Timothy O.
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 2004
In: Journal of quantitative criminology
Jahr: 2004, Band: 20, Heft: 3, Seiten: 263-292
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Schlagwörter:
Delinquency
Multilevel
Strain Theory
Stress
opportunity structures
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Traditional strain theory received substantial empirical attention for a prolonged period of time, but it currently occupies a marginal position in criminology. Efforts to revitalize and elaborate it have occurred under the rubric of Agnew's general strain theory. These theories share a focus on how contextual factors, in particular what are commonly referred to as opportunity structures, affect the relationship between stresses and strains and delinquency. Using national-level data, this study considers empirically the impact of several illegitimate opportunity structures conceptualized at the school-level on the association between strain, stressful life events, delinquency, and self-concept. The results indicate that both stress and strain affect changes in delinquency and self-concept over time. Yet there is little evidence that these relationships are conditioned by access to illegitimate opportunity. These results suggest that strain and stress affect delinquency uniformly across a variety of illegitimate opportunity structures.
ISSN:1573-7799
DOI:10.1023/B:JOQC.0000037734.89980.57