A Comparison of Youths Who Have Committed Delinquent Acts with Learning Disabled, Low-Achieving, and Normally Achieving Adolescents

Abstract

This study compared a group of youths who had committed delinquent acts with LD, low-achieving, and normally-achieving adolescents. Youths who had committed delinquent acts most resembled the low-achieving group based on student and parent interview responses. The delinquent youth group generally indicated below average grade point averages; however, their achievement test scores were average. In addition, family relationships and difficulty in problem solving appeared to distinguish this group from all three groups.