Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine the effect of social, demographic and familial factors on delinquent behavior of high school students. In other words, we attempt to find an answer to this basic question: Why do some students commit delinquent behavior? Accordingly, the variables and hypotheses have been developed from three major theoretical perspectives, that is, strain, social control and sub-cultural theories to answer this question. In this study, the data needed to test hypotheses has been obtained throuth self-reported questionnaire and multistage stratified random sampling method from a sample of 1200 high school students in Bushehr province. The inferential statistical techniques such as T-test, on way analysis of variance, correlation coefficients (Pearson, Spearman), simple and multiple regression (stepwise method) were used in the data analysis by the SPSS. The results showed that such variables as the parents, education, student's educational state, family income, student's attachment to his/her family and school, student's piety, and student's religious background and parents control on their children had inverse and significant relation to the student's delinquent behavior with the confidence level of 95 percent. The results showed that such variables as student's attachment and friendshop with his delinquent friends, and family domain had positive and significant relation to his delinquent behavior with the confidence level of 95 percent. The results also showed tha such variables as age had no significant relation to the student's delinquent behavior on the confidence level of 95 pervent. Finally, variabels such as parent's occupational state, family structure, sex, school grade and the field of study had a significant relation to his/her delinquent behavior on the confidence level of 95 percent.

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