Social Isolation, Strain, and Youth Violence

AuthorTianji Cai,Gabe Ignatow,Michael Niño
DOI10.1177/1541204016636435
Published date01 July 2017
Date01 July 2017
Subject MatterArticles
Article
Social Isolation, Strain,
and Youth Violence
Michael Nin
˜o
1
, Gabe Ignatow
2
, and Tianji Cai
3
Abstract
This article examines the relationship between types of social isolation and violent delinquency.
Deriving hypotheses from elements of general strain theory, we test whether the isolation–violence
relationship varies across different types of isolated youth when compared to sociable youth. We
also test whether other negative experiences and circumstances (types of social strain) associated
with adolescence moderate the relationship between isolation types and violent delinquency. Using
the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we find that different types of social isolation
had varying effects on violent delinquency. Socially disinterested youth show a greater capacity for
violent behavior, but other types of marginalized youth showed no difference in violence when
compared to sociable youth. Results also demonstrate that some types of strain moderate the
isolation–violence relationship. The implications of these findings for research on peer relations,
adolescent strain, and violence are discussed.
Keywords
social isolation, peer networks, violence, general strain theory
Most youth are able to develop and maintain peer relationships during adolescence, but a small
portion either are unable to establish friendships or prefer solitude. Recent estimates indicate
roughly 10%of adolescent youth are socially isolated from their peers (Vaquera & Kao, 2008).
Studies have linked youth social isolation to a number of poor social and academic outcomes, such
as unstable careers (Rubin, Chen, McDougall, Bowker, & McKinnon, 1995), delayed life transitions
(Gest, 1997; Kerr, Lambert, & Bem, 1996), peer rejection and victimization (Nelson, Rubin, & Fox,
2005; Stewart & Rubin, 1995), and school refusal (Coplan & Prakash, 2003). Social isolation also
places youth at increased risk for a myriad of negative health and mental health outcomes such as
low self-worth (Rubin et al., 1995), depression (Ueno, 2005), anxiety (Coplan, Prakash, O’Neil, &
Armer, 2004; Vasa & Pine, 2006), loneliness (Prior, Smart, Sanson, & Oberklaid, 2000), physical
abuse (Elliott, Cunningham, Linder, Colangelo, & Gross, 2005), and suicide (Bearman & Moody,
2004).
1
Willamette University, Salem, OR, USA
2
University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
3
University of Macau, Macau, China
Corresponding Author:
Michael Nin
˜o, Willamette University, 900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301, USA.
Email: mdnino@willamette.edu
Youth Violence and JuvenileJustice
2017, Vol. 15(3) 299-313
ªThe Author(s) 2016
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DOI: 10.1177/1541204016636435
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