The Conditional Effect of Peer Groups on the Relationship between Parental Labeling and Youth Delinquency

Abstract

Peer attitudes toward delinquency and peer involvement in delinquency are hypothesized to modify the relationship between parental labeling, both actual and perceived, and youth delinquency involvement. The models were tested using data from the initial three waves of the National Youth Survey. As hypothesized, both actual and perceived parental labeling increase subsequent youth delinquency. Parental labeling has a stronger effect on youth delinquency when peer attitudes toward delinquency are more positive and when youths reported more friends engaging in delinquency. The conditional effects were observed for both actual parents' labeling and youth perception of parental labeling. Peer attitudes toward delinquency and peer participation in delinquency had independent interactive influences on the relationship between parental labeling and subsequent youth delinquency.