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Early Adolescent Delinquency

Assessing the Role of Childhood Problems, Family Environment, and Peer Pressure

University of South Florida

Research has demonstrated a relationship between various types of emotional and behavioral problems and delinquency. Still, some aspects of this relationship are not as clear, particularly as pertains to emotional and behavioral problems and delinquent behavior across a broader range of time in the context of other key risk and protective factors. A three-pronged analytic approach examined the effects and function of key covariates on delinquent behavior in early adolescence. Childhood emotional and behavioral problems had a consistent, albeit modest, effect on delinquent behavior in early adolescence. Peer influence was found to be the strongest predictor of delinquent behavior, but family environment demonstrated a protective effect nonetheless. Implications for future research, theoretical elaboration, and policy initiatives are discussed.

Key Words: delinquency • early adolescence • childhood emotional and behavioral problems • risk factors • protective factors

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