MDPI Adolescents - 2022 : Exploring the Decisional Drivers of Deviance: A Qualitative Study of Institutionalized Adolescents in Malaysia

Yoga Ratnam, Kishwen Kanna and Nik Farid, Nik Daliana and Wong, Li Ping and Yakub, Nur Asyikin (2022) MDPI Adolescents - 2022 : Exploring the Decisional Drivers of Deviance: A Qualitative Study of Institutionalized Adolescents in Malaysia. MDPI Adolescents, 2 (1). 0-0. ISSN 2673-7051

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Abstract

Adolescents who break the law or deviate from social norms are often criminalized as their behavior is perceived as resulting from conscious choices. However, it is likely that such choices result from their circumstances, namely the failure of their proximal environment to safeguard their wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the background variables and choices that led these institutionalized adolescents down the road of deviance. We Citation: Yoga Ratnam, K.K.; Nik Farid, N.D.; Wong, L.P.; Yakub, N.A.; AbdHamid, M.A.I.; Dahlui, M. Exploring the Decisional Drivers of Deviance: A Qualitative Study of Institutionalized Adolescents in Malaysia. Adolescents 2022, 2, 86–100. https://doi.org/10.3390/ adolescents2010009 Academic Editors: Christiane Stock and Marjan Mohammadzadeh Received: 10 November 2021 Accepted: 14 February 2022 Published: 23 February 2022 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil iations. Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews, conducted between March and May 2018, with 18 participants aged between 15 to 19 years. Participants were purposefully sampled from various welfare institutions in the states of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. We found three core themes, (i) Sources of Distress, (ii) Drivers of Deviance, and (iii) Adjustment Strategies for Coping with Distress, which appeared to have influenced participants’ life trajectories and eventual institutionalization. The findings showed that participants were disadvantaged by backgrounds of risk and vulnerability, characterized by a lack of social support and opportunities for personal development, negative schooling experiences, and negative peer interactions. Substance abuse, which provided a coping strategy for the participants, may have further contributed to their delinquency. Drawing upon the socio ecological model (SEM), we systematically identify interventional opportuni ties at the individual, community, and policy levels to safeguard the wellbeing of at-risk adolescents. Wemakerecommendations aimed at improving the family dynamics, promoting a healthy schooling experience, and transforming neighborhoods into a safe and nurturing environment.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	delinquency; youth; institutionalized; juvenile; Malaysia
Divisions:	Institute of Graduate Studies (IGS)
Depositing User:	LIBRARY1 UPTM
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2025 02:33
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2025 02:33
URI:	http://eprints.kuptm.edu.my/id/eprint/4975

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