Alcohol Use and Delinquent Behavior among Korean Adolescents

This study was aimed to assess the differences between delinquents and non-delinquents in research variables, and to identify the influence of each of these variables on alcohol use and delinquent behavior among Korean adolescents. Data were collected over a 3-month period, from June 2005 to September 2005, using anonymous, self-reporting questionnaires. The participants in this cross-sectional study consisted of 2,146 adolescents, including 1,350 non-delinquents and 796 delinquent adolescents. Compared with non-delinquents, delinquent adolescents had higher levels of dysfunctional family dynamics and were more likely to report greater incidence of antisocial personality tendencies, and psychosomatic symptoms, and higher incidence of depression, and a higher level of aggressive impulsiveness. Delinquent adolescents also had higher incidences of alcohol use than did non-delinquents. In the path analysis, aggressive impulsiveness (0.318), antisocial personality tendency (0.236), and alcohol use (0.155) had the most significant total effects on delinquent behavior. Most importantly, our findings suggest the need for different intervention programs targeting delinquent adolescents that either engage in or abstain from the use of substances.