Compensatory and protective factors against violent delinquency in late adolescence : results from the Montreal longitudinal and experimental study

Abstract

Purpose To identify compensatory/protective factors in pre-adolescence and in mid-adolescence against late adolescence violent delinquency in a sample of kindergarten males from low socioeconomic environments. The selected factors concerned modifiable elements of their family (parental supervision), school (school engagement), and personal life (perceived legitimacy of legal authorities).

Methods Participants were from the Montreal Longitudinal and Experimental Study, a prospective longitudinal study of 1037 kindergarten boys from disadvantaged neighborhoods. We used latent profile analysis to identify at-risk and non-at-risk behavioral profiles in kindergarten and regression analyses to test the putative compensatory/protective factors against late adolescence violent delinquency.

Results We identified three at-risk behavioral profiles in kindergarten (i.e., Low, Moderate, and High aggressive–disruptive). Perceived legitimacy of legal authorities, parental supervision and school engagement were identified as compensatory and/or protective factors in pre-adolescence and mid-adolescence against violent delinquency in late adolescence. The relative influence and the specific role of these factors depended, however, on the developmental period examined (pre-adolescence vs. mid-adolescence).

Conclusions Interventions for high risk kindergarten children that aim to foster positive social bonds with the community (including legal authorities), family and school probably need to start early in elementary school and continue until late adolescence to prevent violent delinquency during adolescence.