The Effect of the Social Environment on Juvenile Delinquency among Juveniles at Mafraq Center in Abu Dhabi, UAE: A Field Study

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency is a major social problem, which influences the stability of both families and communities, especially in the rapidly developing society. This paper will discuss how the social environment causes juvenile delinquency among juveniles who are staying at Mafraq Centre in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The study is based on four major aspects of the social environment that include family disintegration, socialisation processes, peer influence and media exposure. The descriptive survey design has been used, and the data were collected using a structured questionnaire that was given to a sample size of 140 juvenile participants. The findings indicate that the most significant aspects in relation to juvenile delinquency include family disintegration, ineffective socialisation processes, peer influence, and media exposure. The findings also indicate that family conflict, parental neglect, and ineffective supervision­­ are the main factors that lead to the emergence of delinquent behaviour, whereas affiliation with deviant peers and exposure to harmful media materials support such behaviour. The research concludes that social and environmental factors are key factors influencing juvenile delinquency and not merely an individual behavioural problem. It also points to the necessity of holistic intervention programs that would stabilize the family, enhance the socialisation process, facilitate positive relationships with peers, and control media exposure. The implications of the findings are that they are useful to policy makers, social workers and juvenile care institutions in formulating preventive and rehabilitative programmes.