The Long Reach: Delinquent Networks during Late Adolescence and Criminal Activity during Young Adulthood

• In Event: 3222 - Section on Crime, Law, and Deviance Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 07. Juvenile Delinquency

Abstract

Research in sociology and criminology highlights the effect that delinquent peers and romantic partners have on adolescents’ own levels of delinquency. Research also supports a connection between enmeshment in deviant networks and self-reported delinquency. However, this research focuses on adolescents and much of it is cross-sectional in nature. In this paper, we analyze the effect of delinquent enmeshment in late adolescence on criminal activity in early adulthood. We hypothesized that respondents enmeshed in fully delinquent networks will report higher levels of delinquency compared to those in semi or non-delinquent networks. Further, we also hypothesized that, for those in semi-delinquent networks, differences exist between those reporting delinquent peers or delinquent romantic partners. Finally, we hypothesized that the effect of enmeshment on criminal activity may differ for young adult men and women. Data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (n = 801) were used to test hypotheses. We found that the enmeshment within a delinquent network during late adolescence is significantly related to engagement in criminal activity during young adulthood, which supported our first hypothesis. Both partial and full delinquent enmeshment in late adolescence influenced criminal activity in early adulthood net of control variables. In addition, being enmeshed in a network with high-delinquent peers and romantic partners was related to higher levels of criminal activity than those with just one delinquent network association. The results did not support our second hypothesis as the effect of peers on criminal activity was stronger than the effect of delinquent romantic partners for those in semi-delinquent networks during late adolescence. Further, gender moderated the association between delinquent enmeshment and criminal activity, but only for those with both highly delinquent peers and romantic partners during late adolescence. Our findings offer support for the “long reach” of late adolescent delinquent enmeshment on subsequent criminal activity.

Authors

• Brian Joseph Timm, Bowling Green State University

• Peggy C. Giordano, Bowling Green State University

• John H. Boman, Bowling Green State University