Postvention actions are commonly employed after completed suicides and suicide attempts but can be adapted to assist affected family members in dealing with other types of crisis. The authors adapt a postvention model to be applied to systemically working with families who have a member engaging in self-injurious behavior. Recommendations for counselors who work with youth who self-injure and their families are provided.
Theories explaining delinquency have been examined primarily using quantitative methods. The current study used interviews to gain insight into the lives of delinquent male adolescents. Results indicate that no single theory best explains delinquency, but a combination of theories provides comprehensive representation.Many theories, such as social control theory, social learning theory, and stress theory, provide an explanation for delinquency and substance abuse in adolescents. Each of these theories adopts a slightly different perspective on the causes of criminal behavior by highlighting specific characteristics that could either prevent or lead to delinquency. A considerable body of research and literature has identified various factors and tested some of these theories (e.g., Bellair, Roscigno, & McNulty, 2003;Zimmermann, 2006); however, the majority, if not all, of these empirical studies have been quantitative. That is, each has been conducted with a priori hypotheses that have directed the study's design and measures. Whereas these studies have produced important results that increase the understanding of delinquent behavior, the voices of delinquent youths have not been heard.These voices can provide a bird's-eye view of youths' experiences, including their home lives, their peers, and how they cope with various situationsproviding personal insight into possible causes of or prevention of engagement in delinquent behavior. The qualitative approach implemented in this study was used with the intention of providing information that may help counselors better understand adolescent delinquent behavior. Qualitative methods provide an effective way to explore the subjective meanings these youths make of their life experiences, and any commonalities among their lives may lead to a better understanding of their current delinquent behavior (Banyard & Miller, 1998). The purposes of this study were to (a) better understand the life situations of juvenile delinquents, (b) determine which theory or theories of delinquent behavior might best provide enlightenment into unruly and offending behaviors (including substance use and abuse), and (c) provide counselors with effective interventions and helping suggestions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.