Antisocial behavior of adolescent males with migration background: Findings from a longitudinal study in Germany

Abstract

A comprehensive examination of antisocial behavior in adolescent males with a migration background compared to their native peers show inconsistent results. The results of our research project “Chances and risks in the life course” (CURL-Study by the DFG Research Center) indicate that there is not a considerable difference between antisocial behaviour of adolescents with and without a migration background. Nevertheless the antisocial behavior of male adolescents with a migration background are put under the microscope because of their controversial nature. Risk factors for the development of antisocial behavior were also examined for adolescent males with and without a migration background. Perceived discrimination is handled as migrant specific risk factor. It was found that the perceived discrimination of male adolescents with migration background has both cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships with antisocial behavior. The theoretical model of the current study was based on the disintegration approach of Anhut and Heitmeyer (2000). After some preliminary analysis, a simplified mediation model was tested longitudinal with Mplus in boys with migration background with the dependent variable “total amount of committed crimes” and “violent crime”. The data for this work was collected both in an older (10th and 11th grade students) and younger cohort (6th and 7th grade students) for two years. The model fit of mediation model in older cohort was very good, but not satisfactory in younger cohort. From perceived discrimination and negative parenting extend almost always significant paths over the mediator factors (impulsivity, peer delinquency and acceptance of violence) to violent delinquency in the older cohort.