NCJ Number
169539
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 503-512
Date Published
1996
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study investigates the collective influence of family, school and peers on behavioral problems in adolescence.
Abstract
Data from 2,814 15- and 16-year-old secondary school students were analyzed and adolescents with addiction-risk or aggressive/criminal behavior were compared to those who did not display such behavior. Adolescents with behavioral problems were characterized by having a more negative perception of the environment with regard to most of the variables related to family, school, and peers. Behavioral problems were associated with problems in multiple environments. Some differences were found between boys and girls. Multiple regression analyses showed that for boys, problems at school were the most important predictor of behavioral problem scores, while for girls, it was problems at home. Although the study used a large and representative community sample, the study had several limitations: (1) It is unclear to what extent the findings are generalizable to other samples; (2) Perhaps other risk-factor domains should have been included; (3) By using a retrospective design, nothing can be concluded about the causal direction of the relationships; and (4) Data were obtained using a self-report questionnaire; there were no ratings via more objective methods. Notes, tables, references