探討成熟斷層對於青少年違犯行為之影響

Exploring the Impact of a Maturity Gap on Juvenile Delinquency

研究目的：根據Moffitt（1993），成熟斷層是指青少年在生理成熟與社會成熟之間產生落差，此種狀態會使個體透過違犯行為來解決。然而，過去研究多探討一般性危險因子（衝動性與不良的社會環境）對於青少年違犯行為之影響，較少探討成熟斷層對青少年違犯行為的影響。本研究根據理論，將成熟斷層劃分為物質需求、物質限制、自主需求與自主限制，初步探討：1.成熟斷層量尺的信、效度，2.成熟斷層對青少年違犯行為是否具獨特的影響力，3.青少年才開始違犯者，其成因是否主要來自成熟斷層，4.將青少年分成低度違犯、晚發型與早發型三組，三組在成熟斷層的差異如何。研究方法：以287位在學男生（平均年齡17.09歲）為受試，進行自陳量表施測。研究結果：1.成熟斷層四因子具有可接受的內部一致性與效標關聯效度；2.控制了兒時違犯行為與一般性危險因子之後，成熟斷層仍能有效預測青少年違犯行為；3.只有成熟斷層可預測兒時未違犯者的青少年違犯行為。4.成熟斷層較一般性危險因子更能凸顯晚發型青少年的獨特性。研究結論：本研究點出了成熟斷層的重要性，並進一步針對成熟斷層的各因素與青少年違犯行為之關係做較仔細的說明。

Purpose: Many studies have explored how general risk factors (i.e., impulsivity and adverse social control) influence juvenile delinquency. Few have examined the relation between juvenile delinquency and a maturity gap, the difference in an adolescent’s physical and social maturity (Moffitt, 1993). Some adolescents with a maturity gap engage in social mimicry of delinquent peers and become involved in delinquent behaviors. Because an operational definition of maturity gap has yet to be clarified in the literature, this study develops a maturity gap scale with 4 factors: material needs, material restraints, autonomy needs, and autonomy restraints. The goals of this study were to test the validity of the maturity gap scale, determine whether a maturity gap has a unique influence on juvenile delinquency, determine whether a maturity gap is the main contributor to delinquency arising in adolescence, and compare general risk factors and maturity gap factors in 3 groups of adolescents: one who has committed few delinquent acts, one exhibiting earlyand one exhibiting late-onset delinquency. Methods: Participants included 287 junior and senior high boys (M age = 17.09 years). The measured variables included impulsivity, social control factors (parenting from father, parenting from mother, attachment to school, and attachment to peers), maturity gap (material needs, material restraints, autonomy needs, autonomy restraints), social mimicry (association with delinquent peers), conduct problems in childhood, and juvenile delinquency. Results: Results confirmed the internal consistency, reliability, and criterion-related validity of the 4 maturity gap factors. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that a maturity gap predicts juvenile delinquency after controlling for conduct problems in childhood and general risk factors. For those participants who never exhibited conduct problems in childhood, a maturity gap but not general risk factors predicted juvenile delinquency. The 3 groups had a significant difference in material needs, material restrains, and autonomy needs. Conclusions: Findings supported the importance of the concept of maturity gap for juvenile delinquency research. In the past, some researchers have regarded Autonomy Needs as the most important factor in a maturity gap. Results indicated that Material Needs (such as the need for sex, a car, or money) is another important factor. Moffitt considered restraints to be risk factors for delinquency, but this study demonstrated that Material Restraints could prevent youth from engaging in criminal activities. These contradictory results are discussed from the perspective of opportunity theories of crime and cultural differences.