نقش خویشتن های ممکن ترس در رابطه بین نفوذ همسالان و بزهکاری

Abstract This study explores the impact of a feared delinquent possible self on the relationship between exposure to negative peer behaviors and violent and non-violent self-reported delinquency. Previous research strongly supports that deviant peers influence adolescents' delinquent behavior. Yet, few studies have explored intrapersonal factors that may moderate this influence. Possible selves include what one hopes, expects and fears becoming and are believed to motivate behavior. Thus, it was hypothesized that adolescents who were exposed to deviant peers and also feared engaging in delinquency would be more likely to self-report delinquency. Seventh grade students (n = 176) identified feared possible selves in the future, their exposure to negative peer behavior and self-reported violent and non-violent delinquent behavior. Findings suggest that exposure to negative peer behavior is associated with self-reported delinquent behavior. For violent behavior, possessing a feared delinquent possible self moderates this relationship. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Results Descriptive and bivariate analyses Of those who completed the possible self measure (n = 185), more than half reported delinquency as a feared possible self (52%; n = 96). Of those who indicated feared delinquency, most mentioned this fear only once (42%; n = 40). Four percent of all participants mentioned it for every possible response (n = 8). Of those who completed the self-reported delinquency measures (n = 189), 19% had engaged in non-violent delinquency behavior (n = 35), while 40% had engaged in violent delinquency (n = 75). Of those who self-reported violent and non-violent delinquency, the number of acts committed was typically low. See Table 1 for descriptive information for the study variables. Table 1. Descriptives and intercorrelations of study variables. 1 2 3 Mean SD Skew 1. Negative peer behaviors – 1.70 .60 1.75 2. Feared delinquency .05 – 24.23 28.94 1.02 3. Self-reported violent delinquency .34** .17* – 1.29 .68 4.04 4. Self-reported non-violent delinquency .46** −.03 .46** 1.10 .28 4.40 Note. Variables were excluded listwise. Therefore, sample sizes for correlation coefficients vary (range n = 179 to n = 189).*p < .05; **p < .01. Table options There were no significant differences associated with ethnicity for self-reported violent (MWhite = 1.38, SD = 1.01; Mnon-White = 1.26, SD = .51; t[58] = −.84, p = .41) or nonviolent delinquency (MWhite = 1.12, SD = .26; Mnon-White = 1.09, SD = .29; t[187] = −.54, p = .59). Males self-reported marginally more violent delinquency compared to females (Mmale = 1.43, SD = .90; Mfemale = 1.21, SD = .47; t[99] = 1.94, p = .06). However, they did not significantly differ for self-reported non-violent delinquency (Mmale = 1.10, SD = .29; Mfemale = 1.09, SD = .28; t[186] = .17, p = .87). Bivariate correlations suggest that more negative peer influence experienced by participants was associated with more self-reported violent and non-violent delinquency ( Table 1). Additionally, self-reported violent and non-violent delinquency were moderately positively correlated. Feared delinquency was positively correlated with self-reported perpetration of violent delinquency, though it was not correlated with self-reported non-violent delinquency. Multivariate analyses Self-reported violent delinquency Results for each step are shown in Table 2. Step 1 examined the relationship between the demographic covariates and self-reported violent delinquency. As indicated in the bivariate analyses, males reported more violent delinquency than females (β = −.16; p = .04). Step 2 examined the direct effects of negative peer behaviors and feared delinquency on self-reported violent delinquency. After controlling for demographic variables, higher levels of negative peer behaviors were associated with higher levels of self-reported violent delinquency (β = .33; p < .001). Feared delinquency was also associated with higher levels of self-reported violent delinquency (β = .15; p = .04). Step 3 included the interaction of negative peer behaviors and feared delinquency on self-reported violent delinquency. The negative peer behaviors by feared delinquency interaction term was associated with higher levels of self-reported violent delinquency (β = .22; p = .001). Table 2. Multiple regression analyses predicting self-reported violent and non-violent delinquency (n = 176). Variable B SE(B) β ΔR2 Self-reported violent delinquency Step 1 .031 Ethnicity .126 .116 .081 Gender −.224 .106 −.157* Step 2 .138** Ethnicity .104 .110 .067 Gender −.206 .100 −.145* Feared delinquency .004 .002 .147* Negative peer behavior .385 .081 .333** Step 3 .048** Ethnicity .071 .107 .045 Gender −.203 .098 −.143* Feared delinquency .003 .002 .143* Negative peer behavior .362 .079 .313** Feared delinquency × Negative peer behavior .009 .003 .222** Self-reported non-violent delinquency Step 1 .002 Ethnicity .023 .049 .036 Gender −.011 .045 −.018 Step 2 .223** Ethnicity −.013 .044 −.021 Gender −.024 .040 −.040 Feared delinquency −.001 .001 −.060 Negative peer behavior .228 .033 .476** Step 3 .003 Ethnicity −.010 .044 −.016 Gender −.024 .040 −.041 Feared delinquency −.001 .001 −.059 Negative peer behavior .230 .033 .481** Feared delinquency × Negative peer behavior −.001 .001 −.054 Note. Ethnicity was coded as 0 = non-White and 1 = White. Gender was coded as 0 = male and 1 = female. *p < .05. **p ≤ .001. Table options Fig. 1 decomposes the interaction effect. The graph depicts the relationship between negative peer behaviors and varying levels of feared delinquency. More negative peer behaviors were associated with higher levels of self-reported violent delinquency, but violent behaviors were even higher for youth reporting high feared delinquency. For youth with fewer negative peer influences, feared delinquency did not distinguish groups. A simple slopes analysis (Aiken & West, 1991) revealed that high negative peer behaviors predicted self-reported violent delinquency among individuals with high feared delinquency (b = .62, p < .001) and average levels of feared delinquency (b = .36, p < .001), but not among individuals with low feared delinquency (b = .10, p = .40). Moderation of the relationship between negative peer behaviors and self-reported ... Fig. 1. Moderation of the relationship between negative peer behaviors and self-reported violent delinquency by feared delinquency. Slopes were plotted at the mean and ±1 SD. Figure options Self-reported non-violent delinquency Step 1 examined the relationship between the demographic covariates and self-reported non-violent delinquency. Self-reported non-violent delinquency was not associated with ethnicity or gender. Step 2 examined the direct effects of negative peer behaviors and feared delinquency on self-reported non-violent delinquency. After controlling for demographic variables, negative peer behaviors were associated with higher levels of self-reported non-violent delinquency (β = .48; p < .001); however, feared delinquency was not associated with self-reported non-violent delinquency (β = −.06; p = .39). Step 3 included the interaction of negative peer behaviors and feared delinquency on self-reported non-violent delinquency. The interaction was not significant.