Low Self-Control, Victimization, and Financial Hardship: Does Low Self-Control Moderate the Relationship Between Strain and Criminal Involvement?

Citation

Boccio, Cashen M. & Beaver, Kevin M. (2020). Low Self-Control, Victimization, and Financial Hardship: Does Low Self-Control Moderate the Relationship Between Strain and Criminal Involvement?. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.

Abstract

General strain theory has been widely supported by empirical research. Research concerning possible individual-level moderators of the effects of strain, however, has yielded considerably mixed results. The current study addresses this gap in the literature by examining whether levels of self-control moderate the relationship between strain and criminal involvement in a large nationally representative sample. Our findings reveal that strain and levels of self-control have both additive and interactive effects on criminal involvement. To illustrate, respondents who were exposed to higher levels of strain reported more criminal involvement than respondents exposed to lower levels of strain. Similarly, lower levels of self-control were associated with higher levels of criminal involvement. In addition, levels of self-control were found to moderate the association between experiencing strain and two of the criminal involvement measures. Furthermore, the results suggest that the relationships among strain, self-control, and criminal involvement may vary across gender and forms of strain.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X20909211

Keyword(s)

strain

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

Author(s)

Boccio, Cashen M.
Beaver, Kevin M.

Year Published

2020

DOI

10.1177/0306624x20909211

Reference ID

6538