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The Role of Family Life and the Influence of Peer Pressure on Delinquency: Qualitative Evidence from Malaysia

Author

Listed:
  • Ezarina Zakaria

    (Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, The National University of Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Noor Nasihah Kamarudin

    (Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, The National University of Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Zhooriyati Sehu Mohamad

    (Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, UCSI University Kuala Lumpur (South Wing), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Masahiro Suzuki

    (School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia)

  • Balan Rathakrishnan

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Soon Singh Bikar Singh

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Zaizul Ab Rahman

    (Research Centre for Theology and Philosophy, Faculty of Islamic Studies, The National University of Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Vikneswaran Sabramani

    (Malaysian Association of Adolescent Health, Bukit Jalil Integrated Business Park, Kuala Lumpur 58200, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Azianura Hani Shaari

    (Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, The National University of Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin

    (Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, The National University of Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia)

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency is always seen as a public health problem which needs intervention at various levels. Identifying which factors may lead juveniles to delinquency is a long-standing question among criminologists. This remains the case in Malaysia. There are studies that have explored the impact of problem-solving skills, low socioeconomic status, and gender differences in predicting the delinquent behavior of youth in Malaysia. However, very few studies have aimed to find an in-depth understanding of the effects of family roles and peer pressure on delinquency in Malaysia. The present qualitative research was designed to fill this gap in the literature. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 young male prisoners (juvenile delinquents) in Malaysia to explore the influences of family life and peer pressure on delinquency. The current study showed that parental un-involvement, parent separation, peer pressure, criminal gang membership, and parents’ involvement in crime were the important factors for involvement in delinquency. The findings revealed the importance of guidance and counseling for parents and adolescents, to help them cope with life challenges and to build their social and emotional skills, as well as the necessity of appointing school psychologists and public health experts to help the youths become valuable individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Ezarina Zakaria & Noor Nasihah Kamarudin & Zhooriyati Sehu Mohamad & Masahiro Suzuki & Balan Rathakrishnan & Soon Singh Bikar Singh & Zaizul Ab Rahman & Vikneswaran Sabramani & Azianura Hani Shaari & , 2022. "The Role of Family Life and the Influence of Peer Pressure on Delinquency: Qualitative Evidence from Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7846-:d:848330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ha, Olivia K. & Andresen, Martin A., 2017. "Unemployment and the specialization of criminal activity: A neighborhood analysis," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-8.
    2. Miller, Holly Ventura & Jennings, Wesley G. & Alvarez-Rivera, Lorna L. & Lanza-Kaduce, Lonn, 2009. "Self-control, attachment, and deviance among Hispanic adolescents," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 77-84, January.
    3. Vikneswaran Sabramani & Idayu Badilla Idris & Halim Ismail & Thiyagar Nadarajaw & Ezarina Zakaria & Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin, 2021. "Bullying and Its Associated Individual, Peer, Family and School Factors: Evidence from Malaysian National Secondary School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-28, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Rowland A. E. Iheanacho & Margaret E. Oyo-Ita & Jude U. Ofoegbu & Nsikan A. Akpan, 2023. "Family psychological wealth, peer pressure, and corruption tendencies of adolescent students in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.

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