Child labor as a risk factor in adolescent antisocial behavior: A descriptive-comparative analysis

Studying antisocial behavior in adolescents who perform child labor has a potential meaning by knowing the behavior considering various sociodemographic variables. The objective of this research was to identify the levels of antisocial behavior in adolescents who are exposed to child labor, considering sex, educational level and age group. It was an applied study with a comparative descriptive design, 151 adolescents from the city of Trujillo-Peru participated, who were administered a questionnaire that measures antisocial and criminal behavior composed of 40 items. The most important findings show that adolescents present regular and high levels of antisocial behavior, those who do not study tend to present greater antisocial behavior, adolescents aged 15 and 16 present this type of behavior more prevalently. Therefore, it is important to develop prevention activities with adolescents between the ages of 11 trying to establish more adaptive lifestyles and training in social skills that allow them to have a higher quality of interpersonal relationships, and with adolescents over 15 years of age. It would help a lot to develop coping strategies to have a better personal development.