Understanding Asian Immigrants’ Crime: An Exploration of Social Bonds and General Strain

Abstract

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing population in the United States. We theorize that Asian immigrants exhibit characteristics such as strong parental attachment, high school commitment, neighborhood involvement, and belief in conventional social rules. However, Asian immigrants residing in the United States may encounter a variety of stresses associated with being Asian and immigrants. This study aims to understand the offending behaviors of Asian immigrants based on Travis Hirschi's social bonding theory and Robert Agnew's general strain theory. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health are utilized to understand the offending behaviors of 676 Asian immigrants. The findings of this study indicated that Asian immigrants with higher parental attachment are less likely to engage in crime. However, friends’ suicide, and experiences of discrimination in school, gender, age, and socioeconomic status also emerged as significant predictors of criminal engagement. Overall, understanding the characteristics that contribute to the criminal behavior of Asian immigrants may inform the creation of culturally informed programs and policies to reduce crime by increasing parental attachment, reducing friend's suicidal behaviors and promoting fair treatment in school settings.