Sibling, peer, neighbor, and schoolmate correlations as indicators of the importance of context for adolescent development.
We use nationally representative data to calculate correlations in achievement and delinquency between genetically differentiated siblings within a family, between peers as defined by adolescents' "best friend" nominations, between schoolmates living in the same neighborhood, and between grademates within a school. We find the largest correlations between siblings, especially identical twins. Grademate and neighbor correlations are small. Peer-based correlations are considerably larger than grademate and neighbor correlations but not larger than most sibling correlations. The data suggest that family-based factors are several times more powerful than neighborhood and school contexts in affecting adolescents' achievement and behavior.
Duncan
G J
GJ
Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 2040 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. greg-duncan@northwestern.edu
Boisjoly
J
J
Harris
K M
KM
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment