The Demographic Distribution of Delinquency and ADM Problems

Abstract

There is a substantial literature on the relationship between criminal behavior and age, sex, race or ethnicity, social class or status, and place of residence. The earliest examples of this literature may be found in the work of the French cartographers Guerry and Quetelet (see Vold & Bernard, 1986, pp 131–132), and contemporary examples abound. Although it is not as extensive, a similar literature exists on the relationships of alcohol and drug use with these same demographic variables; most of it (like the popularity of the drugs with which it is concerned) developed since World War II (see, e.g., Kandel, 1980). Only the literature on alcohol use and its associated problems is substantially older. The available literature on demographic correlates of adolescent mental health problems is much less extensive, rarely involves representative national samples, and often focuses on a single mental health problem such as depression (e.g., Kandel & Davies, 1982).