Gender Differences in Associations with Deviant Peer Groups: Examining Individual, Interactional, and Compositional Factors

Abstract

Researchers have long known that boys are more likely to have deviant peers than are girls. Yet, little research has tried to explain why boys and girls differ in their decision to associate with deviant peers. With the salience of deviant peers well established as a robust predictor of delinquency, we address the question, are the predictors of association with deviant peers different for boys and girls? In our examination of family and community processes, individual effects, and peer group composition factors, we find that the predictors of association with deviant peers differ by gender. In addition, our findings suggest gender divergences in the causes of both deviant peer association and deviant peer pressure. We discuss the implications of our research for both theoretical development and appropriate model estimation.

Notes

¹Reviewers may question why we use older data when newer data are available in the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult Data. Our choice was based on several factors. First, earlier data contains far more children born to younger mothers, which is tied to higher delinquency levels. Second, our data also contains children from oversamples of poor, white mothers before this sub-sample was dropped due to budgetary constraints. Third, later waves of data often have more issues with missing cases on the items we analyze. For all these reasons, we chose to use the earlier waves of data.

²One of the best predictors of joining gangs for girls is exposure to abuse. Unfortunately, the NLSY79-Child data does not measure physical or sexual abuse, thus we utilize a measure of physical punishment.

Items in bold indicate significant gender differences.

Items in bold indicate significant gender differences.

*p < .05.

**p < .01.

***p < .001.

Items in bold indicate significant gender differences.

*p < .05.

**p < .01.

***p < .001.

Items in bold indicate significant gender differences.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Constance Chapple

CONSTANCE CHAPPLE is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Oklahoma. Her work focuses on criminological theory, gender differences in crime, child abuse and neglect, and the consequences of incarceration.

Jamie Vaske

JAMIE VASKE is an Assistant Professor at Western Carolina University in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and an Affiliated Professor in the Department of Psychology. Her work focuses on quantitative methods, biosocial criminology, correctional rehabilitation, and gender and crime.

Meredith G. F. Worthen

MEREDITH G. F. WORTHEN is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and elected faculty member of the Women's and Gender Studies Program. She is interested in the sociological constructions of deviance and stigma, adolescent sexuality, LGBTQ identities, feminist criminology, and gender differences in adolescent delinquency. Her recent publications have appeared in the Journal of LGBT Youth, Qualitative Research, and Sex Roles: A Journal of Research.