THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL DISORGANISATION ON DRUG USE AMONG YOUTH FROM A GENDER PERSPECTIVE : ARE BOYS AND GIRLS AFFECTED TO THE SAME EXTENT BY RISK FACTORS OF SOCIAL DISORGANISATION?

Abstract:  Although the theory of social disorganisation does emphasise the influences neighbourhood dynamics have on youth, it does not consider if the risk factors of mobility, delinquent friends, ethnicity, and low socioeconomic factors, affect boys and girls in similar ways. The purpose and aim of this study is to contribute with gender-based research to the field of criminology that can be used when developing interventions among juveniles with delinquent behaviour. Delinquent behaviour was in the study delimited to drug use. The study used bivariate analysis, logistic regression and hierarchy regression as the method of analyses. The results showed that there are significant similarities and differences between girls and boys. It was possible to see significant similarities between boys and girls in relation to delinquent friends and drug use. Mobility was an important variable for girls in relation to drug use, but not for boys. Mobility affected girls in the opposite direction of what was expected according to theory of social disorganisation: low amount of mobility increased the risk for drug use significantly among girls.