U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Multisite Examination of Youth Gang Membership: Does Gender Matter?
NCJ Number
              174652
Journal

*Criminology* Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: November 1998 Pages: 799-828
Author(s)
          F   Esbensen;
                        E P Deschenes
Date Published

1998
Length
              30 pages
Annotation
              This research determined gang membership in a general survey of eighth-grade students in a cross-section of the United States and examined differences between boys' and girls' attitudes associated with gang membership.
Abstract
              The study was part of a larger evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training program (G.R.E.A.T.). As such, evaluation objectives dictated many of the design elements, including site selection and sampling procedures. One component of the evaluation was a multisite, multistate cross-sectional survey of eighth-grade students conducted during the spring of 1995. Within each of 11 sites, schools that offered G.R.E.A.T during the prior 2 years were selected. Group-administered questionnaires were administered to all eighth graders in attendance on the specified day. Demographic, attitudinal, and behavioral measures were obtained from students who completed the self-administered questionnaires. Attitudinal measures used were representative of social learning theory and social control theory. Gang membership was determined through self- identification. The finding that delinquent gang members were present in all 11 sites suggests that although social structural factors may be associated with gang formation, they are not the exclusive cause of delinquent gangs. The social control model suggests that boys and girls may join gangs for different reasons. Girls with high self-esteem, for example, were less likely to join gangs; whereas, boys with high self-esteem had a greater probability of joining gangs. The effect of social isolation was also different for boys and girls; boys who felt socially isolated were less likely to join gangs, but this variable had no effect on girls. Boys who believed that educational success was unattainable had a higher likelihood of reporting they were gang members; this variable had no effect for girls. Family processes were no more important for females than males. The results refute the media notion that females do not join gangs for the thrill of it. Risk-seeking was a predictor of female gang membership, but not of male gang membership. Impulsivity was not an important factor for either males or females. The social learning model, contrary to the social control model, showed similar relationships for males and females, although the magnitude of the effects varied slightly. The peer variables appeared to be slightly stronger explanatory factors for females than males, and the attitudinal variables (guilt expected from delinquent acts and neutralization of behaviors) were stronger for the males. 4 tables and 77 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        94-IJ-CX-0058


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 1998
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR03337
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Adolescent attitudes
        Male female offender comparisons
        NIJ Grant-related Documents
        Social and Behavioral Science
        Research and development



  
Similar Publications
        
                      A Diagnosis of the Primary Difference between EuroForMix and STRmixTM
                  Multidisciplinary Teams, Street Outreach, and Gang Intervention: Mixed Methods Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Denver
                  States’ School Safety Centers: A Brief Look Into History, Characteristics, and Activities
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov