Evaluation of a social contextual model of delinquency: a cross-study replication.
The present study empirically examined three theoretical approaches designed to predict risk for delinquency during adolescence: an individual difference perspective, a social interactional model, and a social contextual approach. Hypotheses derived from each perspective were tested using two independent samples of early adolescents followed over a 4-year period. Six-hundred sixty-seven children (in sixth grade at Time 1), and their parents comprised the first sample (Project Family); and 451 children (in seventh grade at Time 1), their parents, and a close-aged sibling made up the second sample (Iowa Youth and Families Project). Results from a series of structural equation models suggested that a social contextual approach provided the best fit with the data across both samples and genders. Consistent with the social contextual approach, results indicated that a lack of nurturant and involved parenting indirectly predicted delinquency by increasing children's earlier antisocial behavior and deviant peer relationships; child antisocial behavior also predicted similar decreases in nurturant parenting over time. Both child antisocial behavior and deviant peer affiliations at Time 2 predicted delinquency 1 year later. Implications for theoretical development and future research priorities are discussed.
Scaramella
Laura V
LV
Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, LA 70148-2870, USA. lscarame@uno.edu
Conger
Rand D
RD
Spoth
Richard
R
Simons
Ronald L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007484:Iowa; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010379:Peer Group; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D012932:Social Facilitation; D012951:Socialization