Immigrant Generations and Delinquency: Assessing the Relative Effects of Family, School, and Delinquent Friends

Citation

Jiang, Xin & Peguero, Anthony A. (2017). Immigrant Generations and Delinquency: Assessing the Relative Effects of Family, School, and Delinquent Friends. Race and Justice. vol. 7 (3) pp. 199-225

Abstract

Recent research has demonstrated an “immigrant paradox”: a parallel between assimilation and increased engagement in adolescent delinquency. Although evidence has suggested that social control and differential association contribute to the criminological understanding of the immigrant paradox, not many studies have simultaneously incorporated measures of social control and differential association to explore delinquency across immigrant generations. Based on a sample of nationally representative adolescents (N = 13,121) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), this study investigates whether and how social control (i.e., family control and school control) and differential association (i.e., delinquent friends association) explain the relationship between immigrant generation and delinquency. Results indicate that delinquent friendships play a more important role and account for much of the difference in delinquency across generations. Moreover, within each generation, delinquent friendships have a more consistent effect on delinquency. However, family control and school control are stronger predictors of delinquency for the third-plus generation than for earlier generations.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177%2F2153368716640324

Keyword(s)

immigrant youth

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Race and Justice

Author(s)

Jiang, Xin
Peguero, Anthony A.

Year Published

2017

Volume Number

7

Issue Number

3

Pages

199-225

Edition

March 29, 2016

DOI

10.1177/2153368716640324

Reference ID

7578