What Can Your Friends Do for You? Assessing the Relationship between Strain, Friendship Networks, and Delinquency.

• In Event: New Applications of General Strain Theory

Abstract

Consistent with general strain theory, strainful life events have been found to have significant effects on adolescent delinquency Furthermore, delinquent peers have been shown to be an important moderator in the strain-delinquency relationship. However, to date, no studies have applied social network analysis to test conditioning effects of friendships with delinquent peers on strain-delinquency associations. In addition, previous research has not incorporated moderating effects of such friendship network properties as group integration, density, reciprocity, and prestige on the relationship between strain, delinquent network, and delinquency. Using Add Health data, this study evaluates interrelationships between strain, those characteristics of friendship networks, and involvement in delinquent behaviors. Its results show that the measure of cumulative strain is moderately related to adolescent delinquency. The hypotheses regarding main and interactional effects of friendship network measures have also received some support. Overall, the findings indicate the usefulness of application of social network analysis to general strain theory.

Authors

• Anastasiia Kuptsevych, University of Miami

• Olena Antonaccio, University of Miami

• Michael French, University of Miami