Developmental Assets and Growth in Adolescent Delinquency: An Exploration of Gender Differences

• In Event: Biosocial Development and Offending

Abstract

According to positive youth development frameworks (e.g., Lerner, 2000), youth equipped with developmental assets are less likely to engage in problem behaviors. Relatively little is known about the effects of developmental assets on longer-term trajectories of adolescent problem behavior, and whether associations differ by gender. This study addresses this gap, using six waves (from age 10-15) of self-report data from 722 German fifth-grade students (N=318 male; N=404 female). Delinquency (α= .85-.88) and developmental assets (α= .80-.87) were assessed at waves 3-6; seven psychosocial risks at baseline. Latent growth analysis revealed a nonlinear growth pattern characterized by an increase in delinquency which levelled off toward the end of the study period. The two-group growth model (MLR Χ2(172)= 368.86, p=.000, CFI=.925, RMSEA=.056, SRMR=.049) revealed that more yielding to peer pressure (ES=.29) and more advanced pubertal status (ES=.31) were significantly linked to higher initial levels of delinquency, but only for males. For both genders, more developmental assets were significantly linked to lower concurrent levels of delinquency (ES -.19 to -.43). Universal prevention efforts that address the needs of German students in school settings might include fostering developmental assets on a broad basis to help reduce engagement in delinquency.

Author

• Margit Wiesner, University of Houston