From Domestic Violence to Juvenile Delinquency: Examining Gender Differences

Although family violence increases juvenile delinquency, few studies have assessed whether its effects differ by gender in cultures emphasizing family hierarchy and gendered expectations. This study examines how interparental violence and parental abuse relate to delinquency using nationally representative longitudinal data from South Korea. Mixed effects Poisson regression results show that both forms of violence significantly predict increased delinquency. Gender interaction terms indicate that the effects of parental abuse and depression on delinquency are significantly stronger for girls than for boys. These findings suggest that female adolescents may be more emotionally vulnerable to family based strain, especially in contexts where they are socialized to prioritize emotional restraint and family cohesion. Policy responses should account for these gendered differences.