News reports of an escalating youth gang problem are frequent in current Canadian media. However, empirical study of factors contributing to youth gang affiliation, particularly in regards to protective factors that may be targeted in intervention and prevention efforts is lacking, especially in Canadian populations. This study was initiated as an exploratory study to examine the relationship between degrees of gang affiliation and measures of social/emotional competency, with a view to identifying a tool that could possibly be utilized to guide intervention planning efforts. The relationship with group affiliation, as well as the relationship to measures of aggression were also included to lend further depth to the analysis. The target population was youth between the ages of 12 to 15 years old who may have been at earlier (lesser degree and more transient) stages of gang affiliation.<p>
Data for this study were collected in self-report survey format from 109 youth between the ages of 12 and 15 years of age from several urban Saskatchewan schools. Correlational analysis was performed to investigate the relationships between group and gang affiliation on the BarOn EQ-i: YV (BarOn & Parker, 2000), and the Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992). Significant relationships were found between gang affiliation and the BarOn EQ-i: YV Interpersonal and Adaptability composites, and Total EQ scores, as well was with the Physical Aggression subscale of the Aggression Questionnaire. Differences in relationships emerged when the sample was separated by gender. There was a lack of significant relationship found between degree of group (non-gang) affiliation and gang affiliation amongst respondents in this study. Significant correlations were found between degree of group affiliation and the BarOn EQ-i: YV and between group affiliation and the Aggression Questionnaire results. Independent sample T-tests were utilized to investigate gender differences, with significant findings noted. An ANOVA was performed to assess for differences in the social/emotional competency and aggression measures, between outlier groups on the group and gang affiliation measures, with significant findings of between group differences.<p>
While the BarOn EQ-i: YV emerges as a potentially valuable tool for the identification of alterable characteristics related to youth gang affiliation, the results of this study are preliminary in nature. Limitations of study design, measures, and sample group are identified, along with recommendations for future research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-08102009-232441 |
| Date | 24 August 2009 |
| Creators | Middleton, Heather Lynne |
| Contributors | Ralph, Edwin, Saklofske, Don, Noonan, Brian |
| Publisher | University of Saskatchewan |
| Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-08102009-232441/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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