THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF CONCEPT AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR OF SCHOOL STUDENTS: MALAYSIAN SCENARIO

The purpose of the study is to identify self concept and delinquency among adolescence that includes form four students from the nuclear family and the single-mother family. The main aim of this study is to examine the correlation between self concept and delinquency among the adolescence from these two different family structures.
This study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, 346 adolescents were required to fill in questionnaires (survey). In the second stage, the researcher interviewed five adolescents who have been identified for the interview. The data obtained was analyzed using frequencies, means, percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (r). Data from the interviews with the five adolescent-informants were presented as case studies (profile).
The study found that there were significant correlation between self concept and delinquency among the adolescence from the nuclear family. Meanwhile, there were correlation between self concept and delinquency and correlation between self concept and academic achievement of the adolescents from both family structures, despite the fact that according to the t-test there are differences between these two families in the aspects of delinquency.

The interview results showed that there were correlation between self-concept and delinquency. Apart from that, the practice of parenting styles is more crucial and giving impact on the self concept and delinquency not just the family structures. The study contributed to the findings that showed correlation does exist between self concept and delinquency and correlation between self concept and academic achievement. Positive self concept could prevent the adolescence from existing social problems (theory contribution from this study). Several recommendations were proposed for the various parties involved, and this study could provide benefit to the parents and teachers in understanding the self concept and delinquency of adolescence.