Deviant youth groups in 30 countries : Results from the second International Self-Report Delinquency Study

In this study the authors explored the link between deviant youth group (DYG) membership and antisocial behavior through a large student survey conducted by means of the same qestionnaire in 62 cities in 30 countries. The sample (N=40,678) was made up of 7th, 8th and 9th-grade students, both boys and girls,attending different types of schools. The defintion of DYG that the authors used was the one drawn u by te Eurogang network: 'Any durable, street oriented youth group whose own identity includes involvement in illegal activity. About 4.4% of youths were considered as DYG members according to this defintion, with prevalence rates differign markedly among differetn countries, from less than 1% to more than 16%. In general, DYG membership implied a higher prevalence of delinquency, violence and alcohol and drug use. Differences by DYG members and nonmembers varies in different countries, the association between DYG membership and antisocial behavior is quite similar in the different national countries.