Delinquency among a sample of Russian youth: A test of power-control theory

Power-control theory purports to explain juvenile delinquency in terms of socioeconomic class, gender, and family structure. To date, it has been developed and investigated only with Canadian and American samples. This paper extends the application of this explanation by using data collected from Russian youths. As part of a 1992 study of legal socialization, a questionnaire was administered to 268 Moscow students. Based upon their responses to items that reflect elements of power-control, we examine the thesis that gender differences in risk orientation and delinquency will vary on the basis of family structure, as that is determined by parental roles in the workplace.