Building Resilience: A Holistic Approach to Reducing Crime and the Impact of Protective Factors in Mitigating the Strain-Crime Relationship

Abstract

The relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and criminal behavior is well-established, with research consistently linking early trauma to increased delinquency and violent conduct. General Strain Theory (GST), developed by Robert Agnew, posits that life stressors—such as abuse, loss, and the failure to achieve valued goals—can result in negative emotions that may lead individuals to engage in criminal activity as a coping mechanism ( Agnew, 1992 ). This qualitative study, an expansion of the author’s previous doctoral research (Asongwed, 2023), explored the intersection of strain, adversity, and criminal behavior among eight college students (ages 21 - 28) from the Anglophone regions of Cameroon. Conducted during the ongoing Anglophone crisis, the study was grounded in GST and aimed to investigate the influence of protective factors in mitigating the risk of crime among youth in conflict-affected settings. Participants reported experiencing various strains, including poverty, displacement, violent victimization, and limited access to education. Despite these challenges, findings revealed that protective factors such as personal resilience, family and community support, access to education, employment opportunities, and religious beliefs significantly buffered the impact of strain. This research challenges the traditional emphasis on risk factors by expanding the GST framework to incorporate the role of protective factors in crime prevention. It offers a holistic approach that addresses both individual and structural dimensions of criminal behavior. Policy implications and recommendations for local application are discussed, emphasizing the integration of mental health services, youth employment initiatives, public sensitization campaigns, and community-based support systems in crime prevention and juvenile justice efforts.