The role of economic strain on adolescent delinquency: a microsocial process model

No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Low, Sabina
Sinclair, Ryan
Shortt, Joann Wu
Advisors
Issue Date
2012-08
Type
Article
Keywords
Siblings , Delinquency , Family relations , Socioeconomic status
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Sabina Low, Ryan Sinclair, Joann Wu Shortt; The Role of Economic Strain on Adolescent Delinquency: A Microsocial Process Model; J Fam Psychol. 2012 Aug;26(4):P.576-84. Epub 2012 Jun 18 doi:10.1037/a0028785.
Abstract

The current study examines the role of economic strain as a moderator of the microsocial processes influencing younger siblings’ delinquency (externalizing behavior and substance use) in a longitudinal design. The younger siblings (122 younger brothers and 122 younger sisters) were from 244 families with same-sex biological siblings. Structural equation modeling was utilized to examine a process model whereby mothers’ harsh/inconsistent parenting and older sibling delinquency influence younger siblings’ delinquent behavior via sibling aggression and delinquent peer affiliation. Findings suggest that indirect mechanisms vary as a function of economic strain, with sibling aggression having a stronger, more detrimental effect on adolescent delinquency in economically strained families. Data suggest that familial economic conditions contextualize the relative roles of parenting, sibling, and peer processes in the transmission of risk to adolescent delinquency.

Table of Contents
Description
Click on the DOI or URI to access this article.
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Journal
Book Title
Series
Journal of Family Psychology;v.26, no..4
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0893-3200 (Print)
1939-1293 (Electronic)
EISSN