TY - JOUR
T1 - Mediating the Maltreatment– Delinquency Relationship
T2 - The Role of Triad Gang Membership
AU - Chui, Wing Hong
AU - Khiatani, Paul Vinod
PY - 2021/3
Y1 - 2021/3
N2 - The primary aim of this article is to examine the role of triad affiliation in mediating the relationship between child maltreatment (neglect, punishment, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse) and delinquency among active young gang members in Hong Kong. A sample of 177 gang members aged 12 to 24 was recruited to complete a questionnaire with the assistance of a youth outreach social work team. Neglect was identified as the most common form of maltreatment, followed by emotional abuse, punishment, and sexual abuse. Mediation analyses confirmed that triad affiliation acts as a mediating variable in the child maltreatment–delinquency relationship, except in cases of sexual abuse. Only the relationship between punishment and delinquency was found to be fully mediated by triad affiliation; partial mediation effects were found for neglect and emotional abuse. Recommendations for child protection and youth workers are provided.
AB - The primary aim of this article is to examine the role of triad affiliation in mediating the relationship between child maltreatment (neglect, punishment, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse) and delinquency among active young gang members in Hong Kong. A sample of 177 gang members aged 12 to 24 was recruited to complete a questionnaire with the assistance of a youth outreach social work team. Neglect was identified as the most common form of maltreatment, followed by emotional abuse, punishment, and sexual abuse. Mediation analyses confirmed that triad affiliation acts as a mediating variable in the child maltreatment–delinquency relationship, except in cases of sexual abuse. Only the relationship between punishment and delinquency was found to be fully mediated by triad affiliation; partial mediation effects were found for neglect and emotional abuse. Recommendations for child protection and youth workers are provided.
KW - child maltreatment
KW - delinquency
KW - gang membership
KW - triads
KW - mediation analysis
KW - Hong Kong Chinese
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042595081&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042595081&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1177/0886260518760607
DO - 10.1177/0886260518760607
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 0886-2605
VL - 36
SP - 2140
EP - 2165
JO - Journal of Interpersonal Violence
JF - Journal of Interpersonal Violence
IS - 5-6
ER -
