Principal Component Analysis of Male Criminal Behavior

Abstract

The present study was conducted in order to establish factors that can potentially facilitate crime, as well as the status of the emotional wellbeing presented in the prison population. The sample was composed of 358 inmates of the Federal Center for Social Rehabilitation number 7 in Mexico. A questionnaire was specifically developed; it evaluated sociodemographic factors and Likert scales of substance intake, domestic violence, and depressive symptoms. Validity and reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.703) of the instrument showed appropriate relations between the reagents of the scales; results showed—through Chi-Square analysis—statistically significant differences in the correlations between sociodemographic factors, domestic violence, addictions, and depressive symptoms. Although results showed a connection between domestic violence and substance abuse with criminal behavior, low socioeconomic conditions exhibited a higher degree of correlation with criminal activity. On the other hand, high depression symptoms are present in one out of every five inmates.