Predicting multidimensional delinquency based on emotional maturity and thought suppression: the role of gender moderation

Delinquency is one of the problems of adolescence that can cause disruption of social order and serious problems for the individual, family, and community, and several factors are involved in its occurrence. This study aimed to predict multidimensional delinquency based on emotional development and thought suppression and to investigate the role of gender moderation. The research method was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population included all high school students in Kashan in the academic year 2020-2021, of which 90 students were studied by the convenience sampling method. Data collection with multidimensional delinquency questionnaires (Sahami et al., 1396), emotional development (Singh and Bahargawa, 1974), and the White Bear Suppression Inventory (Wegner and Zanakas, 1994). Results of Simultaneous-entry regression analysis showed that both the variables of emotional development (β=0.45) and thought suppression (β=0.24) can predict multidimensional delinquency in adolescents. The role of gender in the relationship between emotional development and thought suppression and delinquency was also confirmed; This means that the effect of these two variables on delinquency is different in girls and boys, and in boys, it predicts 36% of thought suppression and 41% of emotional deprivation of delinquency, and in girls, it predicts 49% of delinquency. It should be noted that the thought suppression variable in the group of girls was not able to predict multidimensional delinquency. Finally, by taking advantage of these results and providing training on strengthening emotional development and adaptive strategies to deal with stress, a big step can be taken to reduce delinquency in adolescents.