The dimensionality of the social bond

Data from the Youth in Transition study were used to examine issues in the measurement and causal analysis of the social bond as a factor in adolescent delinquency. Using the LISREL technique for simultaneous estimation of measurement and causal models, an eight-factor measurement model is derived. Examination of the independent effects of these eight factors on a measure of overall delinquency shows the importance of parental attachment, general school attachment, conventional beliefs, and involvement in youth subculture activities. An unexpected finding is the higher delinquency for those with higher mobility aspirations (controlling all other factors).