The effects of adolescent’s attachment, self-control, and smartphone dependence on cyber delinquency : A focus on path analysis1)

Yu-jin Ha, Division of Social Welfare, Major of Social Work Practice

Graduate School, Kyungpook National University

Daegu, Korea

(Abstract)

This study is a adolescent’s cyber delinquency path analysis study based on the integrated approach of the social bonding theory, self-control theory, and opportunity theory. This study attempts to understand various aspects of cyber delinquency among adolescent by establishing and analyzing a structural model using the attachment of social bond theory, self-control of self-control theory, and smartphone dependence of opportunity theory. In addition, by identifying the path of cyber delinquency, this study intends to use it as empirical data for social welfare intervention and prevention measures. For the data analysis, Korea Children and Youth

Panel Survey 2018 panel data was used, and 2,541 students in the first year of middle

school were selected for the study. The analysis of the data was performed using SPSS

23.0 for technical statistics and correlation analysis, and the AMOS 22.0 program was

used to analyze structural equation models.

The main results of this study are as follows:

First, parental attachment, friend attachment, self-control, and smartphone dependence have been shown to have a direct impact on adolescent cyber delinquency. 

Second, parental attachment, friend attachment, and teacher attachment have been shown to have a direct impact on self-control. Parental attachment also showed a direct impact on smartphone dependence.

Third, self-control has been shown to have a direct impact on smartphone dependence.

Fourth, self-control has been shown to mediate between parental attachment and cyber delinquency, friend attachment and cyber delinquency.

Fifth, smartphone dependence has been shown to mediate between parental attachment and cyber delinquency, self-control and cyber delinquency.

Sixth, self-control and smartphone dependence have been shown to double-mediate between parental attachment and cyber delinquency.

The significance of this study is as follows:

First, this study is meaningful in confirming the usefulness of cyber delinquency

intervention based on theory by analyzing the relationships and paths between the

social bonding theory, self-control theory, and opportunity theory.

Second, this study is meaningful in applying an integrated approach to delinquency

theory to identify the factors that affect cyber delinquency, the path that causes

cyber delinquency behavior, and the appropriate intervention factors.

Third, since the parameters are effective in intervening in juvenile behavior, it

is meaningful that intervening in self-control, smartphone dependence, which are

parameters verified through this study, can be effective intervention measures that

reflect the characteristics of today's adolescent.