Unsupervised free time increases the likelihood that adolescents will engage in violent behavior, 21-country study finds

A comprehensive 21-country study has revealed that unsupervised free time among adolescents significantly increases their likelihood of engaging in violent behavior and exposure to violence, according to research published in the journal PLOS ONE. Conducted by the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD) consortium, the study analyzed data from over 58,000 young people across 21 countries.

Psychologist Marina Rezende Bazon, leading the Brazilian team in the ISRD, explained that unstructured free time refers to periods when adolescents decide their activities independently, without adult supervision or participation in structured activities. She emphasized that this time often coincides with being in vulnerable situations, exposed to criminal opportunities.

The study identified two primary types of unstructured free time: at home, primarily involving internet use, and outside the home, which includes time spent on streets, in neighborhoods, and in public spaces without supervision.

The study found that unstructured free time was a significant predictor of involvement in crime, ranking second only to association with delinquent peers. When combined, the presence of delinquent peers and unstructured free time posed a particularly concerning combination for young people's involvement in criminal activities and violent situations worldwide. Bazon warned that this combination amplifies the risk of crime and violence for young individuals.

The researchers also investigated the impact of unstructured free time on victimization, noting an increase in female participation in online offenses, particularly those related to physical appearance. This trend may reflect changes in parental supervision in the online environment. Additionally, the study observed a higher prevalence of girls exhibiting behaviors classified as victim-aggressor overlap, indicating they simultaneously experience and perpetrate violence.

These individuals display more severe psychological distress, family problems, and academic difficulties.

While the study included students currently in school, the researchers acknowledged that the most vulnerable adolescents, such as those who have dropped out of school or are in the socioeducational system, may be underrepresented in the sample. Prolonged school dropout emerges as a key indicator of youth vulnerability, with vulnerable adolescents spending extended periods disconnected from conventional institutions.

Bazon emphasized that juvenile delinquency is not limited to lower socioeconomic classes, as adolescents from all socioeconomic backgrounds engage in offenses. However, those from poorer backgrounds face greater monitoring, police attention, and institutionalization, further exacerbating social disparities. The ISRD consortium is preparing its fifth wave of surveys, which will delve deeper into issues like misogyny, online hate crimes, and adverse childhood and adolescent experiences, such as abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and exposure to substance abuse or mental health disorders.