I love you! I hate you! An Assessment of the Impact of Sibling Relationship Quality on Delinquency Among A Large Sample of American Siblings

Citation

Nedelec, Joseph L. & Lonergan, Holly (2021). I love you! I hate you! An Assessment of the Impact of Sibling Relationship Quality on Delinquency Among A Large Sample of American Siblings. Criminology Consortium 2021 Annual Meeting. Virtual.

Abstract

Sibling relationship quality as a factor in the etiology of delinquent behavior is rarely a focal point in criminological analyses. However, researcher outside of criminology have highlighted ways in which variance in terms of sibling relationship quality can impact outcomes such mental health, psychological development, and behavior. Within this wider literature are twin-based studies that illustrate the extent to which sibling relationship quality can differentially impact various outcomes among different types of twins. Further, a key finding of these studies highlights that as genetic relatedness increases so too does the overall importance of the quality of the sibling relationship. With these literatures as a backdrop, the current study tested the extent to which sibling relationship quality served as an influential factor for within-sibling differences in delinquency across the life course amongst varying non-twin and twin-based sibships drawn from the National Longitudinal
Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Overall, the results point to sibling relationship quality as a potential protective factor against delinquent behavior. However, the extent of this influence appears to vary across sibling types. The findings highlight sibling relationship quality as a potential factor of import in the etiology and prevention of antisocial behaviors.

URL

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eaaeac59806a33c28dad808/t/615b3c9fddfc43007ef9ae6d/1633369248759/2021+CrimCon+Annual+Meeting+Final+Program.pdf

Reference Type

Conference proceeding

Book Title

Criminology Consortium 2021 Annual Meeting

Author(s)

Nedelec, Joseph L.
Lonergan, Holly

Year Published

2021

City of Publication

Virtual

Reference ID

10254