Routine activity theory and juvenile delinquency: The roles of peers and family monitoring among Malaysian adolescents

This study used Routine Activity Theory to explain delinquency based on the theory’s three main components: the absence of a capable guardian, the existence of a motivated offender, and a suitable target. The objective of this study is to address the gaps that exist within the delinquency literature, especially in the Malaysian context, using the lens of the theory. Using a survey among 232 male Malaysian adolescents, this study operationalised the absence of a capable guardian as the lack of parental monitoring, a motivated offender as the association with deviant peers and a suitable target with an unstructured socializing of the adolescents. A multiple regression analysis demonstrated the influence of some of the variables tested, and peer involvement in delinquent behaviour seems to be the most predictive of self-reported delinquency, even more so than parental monitoring. Contrary to our expectations, the findings indicated that culture played a role as time spent with peer was not positively predictive of self-reported delinquency which may be reflective of Asian style of friendships. The findings imply that interventions in the Asian contexts should differentiate between associating with peers and being informed of their deviant behaviour. Furthermore, interventions should focus on structured and monitored routine with adolescents in addition with family interventions.