Pubertal development, social factors, and delinquency among adolescent boys

Citation

Felson, R. & Haynie, D. L. (2002). Pubertal development, social factors, and delinquency among adolescent boys. Criminology. vol. 40 (4) pp. 967-988

Abstract

The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health is used to examine the relationship between pubertal development and delinquency among boys (grades 7–9). We find strong positive relationships between pubertal development and violence, on one hand, and property crimes, drug use, and precocious sexual behavior on the other. However, we find no evidence that these effects are due to the effects of puberty on risk-taking, maladjustment, dominance behavior, or autonomous behavior. We do find evidence that pubertal development interacts with social factors—mature boys are more strongly influenced by delinquent friends. Pubertal development also has stronger effects on the delinquency of boys who are academically successful and thus are generally disinclined to engage in delinquency.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-9125.2002.tb00979.x

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Criminology

Author(s)

Felson, R.
Haynie, D. L.

Year Published

2002

Volume Number

40

Issue Number

4

Pages

967-988

DOI

10.1111/j.1745-9125.2002.tb00979.x

Reference ID

121