Poster #32 - The Moonlight Effect: Social Relationships and the Potential for Delinquency

• In Event: 2-001 - Poster Session 1 during Breakfast

Abstract

Introduction: African American youth in the foster care system are at risk for a wide variety of negative outcomes as they transition to adulthood. Although social relationships are often seen as a buffer to delinquency for African American youth in foster care relationships with negative peers and/or mentors may be correlated with increased delinquency. Differential association theory posits that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. Delinquent behavior may arise from the belief that these behaviors are beneficial in certain social contexts and aid in the avoidance of unpleasant outcomes such as social isolation. This study adds to the literature about the importance of understanding the multidimensionality of social relationships for targeted interventions with at-risk youth. Relational permanence in the foster care system may be one concept that counterintuitively increases delinquency among African American youth depending on the context of the relationship.
Hypothesis: We hypothesized that higher levels of relational permanence at Time 1 will be correlated with higher levels of delinquency at Time 2. We also hypothesized that a positive change in relational permanence over time will be correlated with higher levels of delinquency.
Study population: The study population was comprised of 534 African American adolescents in foster care who completed the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Integrated Assessment and Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) survey at least twice between 2007 and 2012 while still in foster care. The average amount of time between assessments was eight months.
Methods: An ANCOVA and ordinal regression were conducted to determine whether relational permanence at Time 1 was correlated with delinquency at Time 2. Age, gender, relational permanence at Time 1, maltreatment history, interpersonal skills, number of placement changes, length in care, and time between assessments were included in the model.
Results: Relational permanence at Time 1 significantly correlated with higher levels of delinquency at Time 2 F(3,512)=4.15, p<.001. Also as hypothesized, a positive change in relational permanence over time correlated with higher levels of delinquency at Time 2 (Exp (β)=.58).
Discussion: As evidenced in Moonlight, the Academy Award winner for Best Motion Picture-Drama, not all social relationships are prosocial and lead to positive outcomes and behaviors. The multidimensionality of social relationships must be taken into account in order to inform effective targeted interventions for at-risk African American youth.

Author

• Abigail Brittany Williams-Butler, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  Presenting Author