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Related Experiment Videos

Deviant peer affiliations, crime and substance use: a fixed effects regression analysis.

David M Fergusson1, Nicola R Swain-Campbell, L John Horwood

  • 1Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand. david.fergusson@chmeds.ac.nz

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|July 11, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Deviant peer affiliations strongly predict adolescent crime and substance use. This influence is strongest in early adolescence, decreasing with age, but remains significant throughout young adulthood.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Criminology
  • Developmental Science

Background:

  • Adolescent peer relationships significantly shape developmental trajectories.
  • Understanding the impact of deviant peer affiliations is crucial for public health and policy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the longitudinal association between deviant peer affiliations and adolescent/young adult crime and substance use.
  • To investigate age-related variations in the influence of deviant peer affiliations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from a 21-year longitudinal study of 1,265 New Zealand children.
  • Assessed annual deviant peer affiliations from ages 14-21.
  • Measured psychosocial outcomes including violent/property crime, alcohol/cannabis abuse, and nicotine dependence.

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Main Results:

  • Deviant peer affiliations were significantly associated with all measured outcomes (p < .0001).
  • Associations remained significant after controlling for confounding factors.
  • The influence of deviant peers on crime and substance use was stronger in younger adolescents (14-15 years) compared to older young adults (20-21 years).

Conclusions:

  • Deviant peer affiliations are a significant risk factor for adjustment problems in adolescence and young adulthood.
  • Interventions targeting deviant peer influence may be most effective when implemented at younger ages.
  • Longitudinal research highlights the sustained impact of peer groups on behavioral outcomes.