Pathways to Legal Cynicism in Mexican Adolescents: A Three-Dimensional Measurement Approach

This study examines pathways to legal cynicism among adolescents in Mexico, a context marked by low institutional trust, corruption, and insecurity. Using a three-dimensional measure of legal cynicism (legal antipathy, legal corruption, and low legal legitimacy), data from the ISRD-4 were analyzed t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Grijalva-Eternod, Áurea E. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: Journal of contemporary criminal justice
Year: 2025, Volume: 41, Issue: 4, Pages: 801-815
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
ISRD
Delinquency
Morality
Self-control
Legal cynicism
Description
Summary:This study examines pathways to legal cynicism among adolescents in Mexico, a context marked by low institutional trust, corruption, and insecurity. Using a three-dimensional measure of legal cynicism (legal antipathy, legal corruption, and low legal legitimacy), data from the ISRD-4 were analyzed through structural equation modeling. Results reveal that individual predispositions (self-control, morality) and self-reported delinquency are most strongly associated with legal cynicism. The discussion highlights intervention strategies in violent and institutionally fragile contexts to prevent youth disengagement from legal norms.
ISSN:1552-5406
DOI:10.1177/10439862251385521