Risk Factors For Adolescents’ Antisocial Behaviour: The Case Of Children Conflicting With The Law And The Adminstration Of Juvenile Criminal Justice Center In Adama City

Abstract

Adolescents’ antisocial behavior is currently becoming a serious problem around the world. Also this problem is very common in cities and towns of Ethiopia, and increases dramatically. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factor of adolescents behavioral problem in Adama city the case of children in conflicting with the law administration center to assess what risk factors leads them for antisocial behavior, to examine their delinquent practice according to their sex and age, and to explore their behavioral problem according to their risk factors. A literature study was done and major risk factors which could potentially influence adolescents for antisocial behavior were identified. Adolescents develop antisocial behavior due to different factors. Low family support, attachment, and communication, poor family background, broken family, disorganized community and influence of peer groups and Poverty is considered to be the roots of their behavioral problems. ( Marcotte,&Boufford, 20002 ).The qualitative method employed and the data gathered with mixed purposeful sampling technique usingn Interview, FGD and a case study. The result of the study indicated multiple risk factors for adolescent’s antisocial behavior, such as individual, family, school; peer and community with its wide context were identified. From those, family factors widely affect the adolescent’s behavior. Also the study revealed male adolescents are more participated in delinquent practices than female adolescents. Besides, sex and age have their own contribution for adolescent’s behavioral problem. Male adolescents are more participant in delinquent practices than female. In addition, the study found that the risk factors have their own contribution on adolescent’s behavioral problem. For instance, the study identified adolescents who came from divorced and single parents, developed less academic interest, early sexual practice, violent and theft; whereas, adolescents who live with aggressive and violent families, have a likelihood to develop the same behavior with their families. Also adolescents, who came from incarcerated and abusive families, develop aggressive and violent behavior. In addition, adolescents who live in disorganized community also develop theft, violent and other abusive behavior for the community. Lastly, educational implementations of the finding as discussed and guidelines are given to families, teachers, religious and community leaders.