DO INDIVIDUAL FACTORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT EXPLAIN ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN JUVENILE-DELINQUENCY

Individually measured factors and neighborhood context were related to juvenile delinquency in a community sample of 506 urban, public-schoo l boys. Neighborhood context was measured with an objective, census-ba sed score that classified neighborhoods as underclass or not underclas s. When African American youths and white youths were compared without regard to neighborhood context, African American youths were more fre quently and more seriously delinquent than white youths. When African American youths did not live in underclass neighborhoods, their delinq uent behavior was similar to that of the white youths. Hierarchical mu ltiple regression analyses showed that boys' hyperactivity and parenta l supervision were the strongest correlates of delinquency. Single-par ent status and poverty/welfare use were not related to delinquent beha vior. Once individually measured factors were accounted for, residence in underclass neighborhoods was significantly related to delinquent b ehavior while ethnicity was not. This study points to the importance o f including the neighborhood context when addressing the social proble ms of African American youths.