Effects of Hurricane Katrina and Other Adverse Life Events on Adolescent Female Offenders: A Test of General Strain Theory

Abstract

This study tested Agnew's General Strain Theory (GST) by examining the roles of anger, anxiety, and maladaptive coping in mediating the relationship between strain and three outcomes (serious delinquency, minor delinquency, and continued involvement in the juvenile justice system) among adolescent female offenders (N = 261). Strains consisted of adverse life events and exposure to Hurricane Katrina. Greater exposure to Hurricane Katrina was directly related to serious delinquency and maladaptive coping. Hurricane Katrina also had an indirect effect on minor delinquency and Post-Katrina juvenile justice involvement mediated through maladaptive coping. Adverse life events were associated with increased anger, anxiety, and maladaptive coping. Anger mediated the relationship between adverse life events and serious delinquency. Anxiety mediated the relationship between adverse life events and minor delinquency. Maladaptive coping strategies were associated with minor delinquency and juvenile justice involvement. Findings lend support to GST.

Figure 1

Hypothetical mediated model testing General Strain Theory.

Figure 2

Structural equation model depicting significant regression paths (N = 261 incarcerated female adolescents). Large circles represent latent variables; rectangles represent single-item indicators of ethnicity and time since Katrina. Single-headed arrows represent regression coefficients; two-headed arrows represent correlations. Regression coefficients are standardized (*p ≤ .05, **p ≤.01, ***p ≤ .001)