Comparing coping mechanisms of 15-17 year-old inhabitants of “Tehran Correction and Rehabilitation Center” (named: delinquents) and the same age students of Tehran high schools (named: non-delinquents).

In a cross-sectional descriptive study, all 105 inhabitants of the center (81 males and 24 females) and 372 high school students (181 males and 191 females) who were randomly selected from area 6 of Tehran high schools completed the “Adolescent Coping Scale” which consists of 18 strategies and 3 styles. Results were analyzed using ANOVA and T-test.

Non-delinquent males and females used productive style more than reference to others, and reference to others more than non-productive style. Delinquent males used productive style and reference to others without significant difference, and also used these two styles significantly more than non-productive style. Delinquent females used all three styles without significant difference. Delinquent males used all three styles significantly more than non-delinquent males. Delinquent females used productive style less, non-productive style more and reference to others without significant difference from non-delinquent females.

In comparison with delinquent females, Delinquent males have a more comprehensive set of coping skills and can use external resources more effectively. Delinquent females use a very dysfunctional collection of coping mechanisms, which may have caused their vulnerability to social pathologies.