The triple risk for crime and delinquency model in the explanation of antisocial behavior of male and female adolescents

Abstract

This study evaluates the antisocial behavior and its main risk factors in a sample of 428 Argentine adolescents from the province of Córdoba, both men and women. For this, the Triple Risk for Crime and Delinquency Model (TRD) (Redondo, 2008, 2015) is taken as a basis. The TRD model suggests the relevance of three main criminogenic sources which operate in interaction: Personal risks, lack of social support and exposure to criminal opportunities. The results obtained confirm, firstly, that boys have a higher criminal involvement than girls; secondly, the existence of various similarities as well as some differences, between women and men, with regard to the influence and predictive capacity of the various risk factors evaluated. Specifically, although some of the risk factors included (eg, antisocial peers, substance use, and poor parental practices) were useful to explain antisocial behavior in both boys and girls, the magnitude of variance explained by them was higher for boys. The study findings empirically support some of the TRD Model proposals. They also suggest that assessments and interventions on antisocial behavior and its risk factors have to take into account the sex differences.