Analysis

The Rochester Youth Development Study (RYDS) focused on the connection between neighborhood disorganization and youth delinquency. Neighborhood disorganization is defined as a lack of social cohesion and the presence of antisocial behaviors such as crime and violence. In this study, factors such as poverty, unemployment, residential mobility, and lack of community participation were analyzed in relation to their impact on youth delinquency. The results showed that young people living in disorganized neighborhoods are more likely to become involved in criminal activities. This occurs due to the absence of positive role models and the lack of social controls that typically deter antisocial behavior. The study highlights the importance of strengthening community structures and social networks in order to prevent youth delinquency, providing stability and support to young people living in vulnerable areas.

Objective

The objective of this questionnaire was to investigate the effect of neighborhood disorganization on youth delinquency. Specifically, the study sought to understand how factors such as poverty, unemployment, high residential mobility, and lack of social cohesion contribute to the development of criminal behavior among young people. Through the analysis of these factors, the study aimed to provide insights that could be used in the development of interventions and policies to strengthen social cohesion and reduce delinquency in neighborhoods with high levels of disorganization.

Scoring

The NDRYDS-17 questionnaire consists of 17 items, which are rated as follows:
Major problem = 3
Moderate problem = 2
No problem = 1

References

Thornberry, T. P., Krohn, M. D., Lizotte, A. J., Smith, C. A., & Tobin, K. (2003). Gangs and Delinquency in Developmental Perspective. New York: Cambridge University Press.