A Partial Test of Agnew’s General Theory of Crime and Delinquency on Deviant Behaviors Among Albanian Youth

Juvenile delinquency is a concerning issue in society as it can have negative impacts on individuals, families, and the broader community. Understanding the correlates of such behavior is crucial for developing effective strategies to reduce its prevalence. One theoretical framework that may aid in understanding youth deviance is Agnew's General Theory of Crime, which emphasizes the central life domains of individuals and their influence on deviance. This research offers a partial test of Agnew's theory to explain deviance among a sample of 1,300 juveniles from Albania. The findings indicate that key theoretical constructs related to Agnew's life domains (self, family, peers, school, and community) effectively predict delinquency. Specific findings, theoretical implications, study limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.