This study constructs an integrated model to investigate the cyber delinquency of adolescents through self-esteem and low self-control as the individual factors and independent variables, parental attachment, school adjustment and delinquent peers as ...
This study constructs an integrated model to investigate the cyber delinquency of adolescents through self-esteem and low self-control as the individual factors and independent variables, parental attachment, school adjustment and delinquent peers as the environmental factors and independent variables, internet-using time as the opportunity factor and the mediation variable. In order to examine the effect of the integrated model on the type of delinquency, gender and school age, the subject was divided into six groups and searched which factors influenced them: male elementary school students, female elementary school students, male middle school students, female middle school students, male high school students and female high school students. For analysis, the study uses data from Korean Children & Youth Panel Survey(KCYPS) which is conducted for the first and the fourth grade of elementary school students and the first grade of middle schools students in South Korea from 2010 to 2016. So as to compare the elementary, middle and high school ages, the study uses each panel data from the fourth year, which is the fourth grade of elementary school, the first grade of middle school, and the first grade of high school.
As the result of the study, there was a significant difference in each factors of influence according to the comparison group such as type of delinquency, gender, and school age. It suggests that it was a meaningful attempt to analyze the causes of online delinquency by dividing the research subjects into various groups. However, unlike the predictions of this study, the influence of parental attachment was not significant. It suggests the necessity of a new analysis direction for the variable.
First, there was the difference according to the type of delinquency. It was found that internet-using time as the significant factor for online delinquency, that delinquent peers as the significant factor for offline delinquency, and that self-esteem, low self-control and school adjustment as the significant factors for both online delinquency and offline delinquency. Secondly, there was the difference according to gender. It was found that internet-using time and school adjustment as the significant factors for male, and that self-esteem, low self-control and delinquent peers as the significant factors for both male and female. Thirdly, there was the difference according to school age. It was found that self-esteem, low self-control and internet-using time as the significant factors for younger age group, that delinquent peers as the significant factor for older age group, and that school adjustment as the significant factor for all age group. To sum up these results, it will be more effective that school adaptation is classified on gender, self-esteem, low self-control and delinquent peers are classified on school age, and internet-using time is classified on all group classification in the future study.
To conclude, delinquent peers showed the strongest influence on juvenile delinquency. The influence of low self-control and school adjustment were also significant for most groups in strong way. So these variables were identified as the most important factors explaining online delinquency. Especially internet-using time was not significant for the offline delinquency but showed significant influence only on the online delinquency, and an indirect effect through internet-using time was especially significant in low self-control and school adaptation. It means that the indirect effect through internet-using time is the main variable characterizing online and offline delinquency. So it was found that there is a need for cooperation between the government and the related companies to create an Internet use environment in which teenagers can relieve tension and stress appropriately.