International Journal of Behavioral Development
Volume 36, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 178-185

Peer selection and influence of delinquent behavior of immigrant and nonimmigrant youths: Does context matter? (Article)

Svensson Y.* , Burk W.J. , Stattin H. , Kerr M.
  • a Center for Developmental Research, JPS:Psychology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
  • b Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
  • c Center for Developmental Research, JPS:Psychology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
  • d Center for Developmental Research, JPS:Psychology, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden

Abstract

This study examines selection and influence related to delinquent behaviors of immigrant and nonimmigrant adolescents attending three majority-immigrant schools (54% to 65.2% immigrant) and four minority-immigrant schools (11.1% to 25.1% immigrant) in one community. The sample included 1,169 youths (50.4% male; 24.2% immigrant) initially between the ages of 12 and 16 years (M =13.92, SD = 0.85). Results showed that immigrant and nonimmigrant adolescents were similar to their peers on delinquent behaviors, and peer selection and social influence operated in a complementary manner to explain this similarity. The processes did not differ between immigrants and nonimmigrants or between school contexts, suggesting that immigrants do not differ from nonimmigrants on either the prevalence or the processes behind delinquency. © The Author(s) 2012.

Author Keywords

Delinquency Adolescence peer influence friendship selection immigrant and nonimmigrant youth

Index Keywords

male controlled study female major clinical study immigrant peer group delinquency prevalence Article community human school child social behavior Adolescent Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84861819740&doi=10.1177%2f0165025411434652&partnerID=40&md5=3eb6e126bad3b2e2a1a30614f9234f41
DOI: 10.1177/0165025411434652
ISSN: 01650254
Cited by: 18
Original Language: English