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Delinquency
Biological Factors and Juvenile Delinquency
A biological theory or a biological factor contributing to delinquency:
A genetic propensity for addiction
Although many teens experiment with drugs and alcohol, not all teens become addicted. Biological as well as social factors can impact an adolescent's propensity to become addicted to illicit substances. According to the research study, "Youth substance use and body composition: Does risk in one area predict risk in the other?" from the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, a positive association has been found in numerous studies between high adolescent BMI and alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use (Pasch et al. 2012). The willingness to engage in illegal behavior regarding drugs and alcohol has thus been linked to a higher BMI in youth and adolescents.
The authors of the study initially speculated...
However, they also found evidence for a biological or genetic root regarding a lack of impulse control that might link the behaviors. Substance abuse and overeating may be linked because they indicate a biological propensity for risk-taking behavior and poor impulse control that results in unhealthy behaviors (Pasch et al. 2012). The use of alcohol, tobacco, and other illicit drugs as well as fighting and other delinquent behavior in the 7 the grade was linked to higher-than-average BMI in 8th grade (Pasch 2012).
Epigenetic factors may also account for this association. Teens who have a genetic propensity for addiction and use drugs may be less inclined to engage in physical activity, and associate with teens who also are not inclined to engage in physical activity. It might also be theorized that body composition may cause a propensity for substance abuse, as teens with high BMIs may seek refuge in drugs and alcohol as a comfort from stigmatization by their peers, however, the authors did not find a positive correlation between obesity and later drug use -- rather it found that teens inclined to engage in substance abuse were more inclined to…
Reference
Pasch, K.E., Velazquez, C.E., Cance, J.D., Moe, S.G., & Lytle, L.A. (2012). Youth
substance use and body composition: Does risk in one area predict risk in the other? Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(1), 14-26. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-011-9706-y
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