Sibling Influence: The Moderating Effects of Sibling Social Status for Juvenile Delinquency

• In Event: Specifying the Role of Friends and Family in the Etiology of Delinquency

Abstract

Existing literature has demonstrated that one sibling's behavior can have a profound influence on the behavior of other siblings in a variety of behavioral domains, including delinquency and substance use. In this presentation, I discuss how a sibling's social status in the adolescent peer network moderates this relationship. I argue, based on Social Learning theories, that siblings can serve as models of both behavior and the social consequences of behavior. Using HLM and APIM analyses drawing on Add Health data, I show that siblings have greater behavioral influence for delinquency and substance use when they are more popular among peers. This effect varies somewhat by sibling gender composition and age gap. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research are also discussed.

Author

• Lacey Nicole Wallace, Pennsylvania State University