Skip to main content
Log in

Adolescent Growth in New Forms of Problem Behavior: Macro- and Micro-Peer Dynamics

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Longitudinal data from an at-risk sample were used to analyze individual linear trend scores for each of three new forms of problem behavior that emerges during the interval from age 10 through 18 years. Growth in substance use, health-risking sexual behavior and police arrests defined a latent construct for growth in adolescent problem behavior. A structural equation model (SEM) showed a significant path from early involvement with deviant peers to a latent construct for growth in new forms of antisocial behavior. A second SEM showed that the contribution of early involvement to later growth was mediated by a latent construct for deviancy training assessed at age 14 years. The relative rates of reinforcement for deviancy, amount of time spent with deviant peers, and deviancy level of the peer network defined a deviancy training construct that accounted for 53% of the variance in later growth in new forms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. S. (1979). The child behavior profile: Boys aged 12 to 16 and girls aged 6 to 11 and 12 to 16 (Vol. II). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 41, 223–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkley, R. A., & Biederman, J. (1997). Toward a broader definition of the age-of-onset criterion for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 1204–1210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battin, S. R., Hill, K. G., Abbott, R. D., Catalano, R. F., & Hawkins, J. D. (1998). The contribution of gang membership to delinquency beyond delinquent friends. Criminology, 36, 93–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buehler, R. E., Patterson, G. R., & Furniss, J. M. (1966). The reinforcement of behavior in institutional settings. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 4, 157–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, R. L., & Akers, R. L. (1966). A differential associationreinforcement theory of criminal behavior. Social Problems, 14, 128–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cairns, R. B., Cadwallader, T. W., Estell, D., & Neckerman, H. J. (1997). Groups to gangs: Developmental and criminological perspectives and relevance for prevention. In D. M. Stoff, J. Breiling, & J. D. Maser (Eds.), Handbook of antisocial behavior (pp. 194–204). New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi, D. M., Crosby, L., & Stoolmiller, M. (1996). Predicting the timing of first sexual intercourse for at-risk adolescent males. Child Development, 67, 344–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi, D. M., & Patterson, G. R. (1987). An approach to the problem of recruitment and retention rates for longitudinal research. Behavioral Assessment, 9, 169–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi, D. M., & Patterson, G. R. (1989). Psychometric properties of fourteen latent constructs from the Oregon Youth Study. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi, D. M., & Patterson, G. R. (1991). Relation of parental transitions to boys' adjustment problems: I. A linear hypothesis. II. Mothers at risk for transitions and unskilled parenting. Developmental Psychology, 27, 489–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeGarmo, D. S., & Forgatch, M. S. (in press). Putting problem solving to the test: Replicating preventive interventions for changing child psychopathology. In R. D. Conger (Ed.), Family consortium. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

  • Dishion, T. J., Andrews, D. W., Kavanagh, K., & Soberman, L. (1996a). Preventive interventions for high-risk youth: The Adolescent Transitions Program. In R. D. Peters & R. J. McMahon (Eds.), Preventing childhood disorders, substance abuse, and delinquency (pp. 184–214). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Capaldi, D., Spracklen, K. M., & Li, F. (1995). Peer ecology of male adolescent drug use. Development and Psychopathology, 7, 803–824.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Capaldi, D. M., & Yoerger, K. (1999). Middle childhood antecedents to progression in male adolescent substance use: An ecological analysis of risk and protection. Journal of Adolescent Research, 14, 175–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Eddy, J. M., Haas, E., Li, F., & Spracklen, K. (1997). Friendships and violent behavior during adolescence. Social Development, 6, 207–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Kavanagh, K., & Kiesner, J. (in press). Prevention of early adolescent substance use among high-risk youth: A multiple gating approach to parent intervention. In R. S. Ashery (Ed.), Research meeting on drug abuse prevention through family interventions, National Institute of Drug Abuse Research Monograph. Washington, DC.

  • Dishion, T. J., McCord, J., & Poulin, F. (1999). When interventions harm: Peer groups and problem behavior. American Psychologist, 54, 755–764.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Spracklen, K. M., Andrews, D. W., & Patterson, G. R. (1996b). Deviancy training in male adolescent friendships. Behavior Therapy, 27, 373–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodge, K. A. (1993). The future of research on the treatment of conduct disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 311–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eddy, J. M., Dishion, T. J., & Stoolmiller, M. (1998). The analysis of change in children and families: Methodological and conceptual issues. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26, 53–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, D. S., & Menard, S. (1996). Delinquent friends and delinquent behavior: Temporal and developmental patterns. In D. Hawkins (Ed.), Delinquency and crime: Current theories (pp. 28–67). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, D. S., Huizinga, D., & Ageton, S. S. (1985). Explaining delinquency and drug use. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrington, D. P., & Hawkins, J. D. (1991). Predicting participation, early onset, and later persistence in officially recorded offending. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 1, 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forgatch, M. S., & DeGarmo, D. S. (1999). Parenting through change: An effective prevention program for single mothers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 711–724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). Ageneral theory of crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, W. B., & McNeal, R. B., Jr. (1996). The law of maximum expected potential effect: Constraints placed on program effectiveness by mediator relationships. Health Education Research: Theory & Practice, 11, 501–507.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, D., Davies, M., & Baydar, N. (1990). The creation of interpersonal contexts: Homophily in dyadic relationships in adolescence and young adulthood. In L. Robins & M. Rutter (Eds.), Straight and devious pathways from childhood to adulthood (pp. 221–241). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellam, S.G., Rebok, G. W., Mayer, L. S., Ialongo, N., & Kalodner, C. R. (1994). Depressive symptoms over first grade and their response to a developmental epidemiologically based preventive trial aimed at improving achievement. Development and Psychopathology, 6, 463–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lahey, B. B., & Loeber, R. (1997). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and adult antisocial behavior: A life span perspective. In D. M. Stoff, J. Breiling, & J.D. Maser (Eds.), Handbook of antisocial behavior (pp. 51–60). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Blanc, M., & Frechette, M. (1989). Male criminal activity from childhood through youth: Multilevel and developmental perspectives. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moffitt, T. E. (1993). Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy. Psychological Review, 100, 674–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osgood, D. W., Wilson, J. K., Bachman, J. G., O'Malley, P. M., & Johnston, L. D. (1996). Routine activities and individual deviant behavior. American Sociological Review, 61, 635–655.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R. (1995). Coercion as a basis for early age of onset for arrest. In J. McCord (Ed.), Coercion and punishment in long-term perspective (pp. 81–105). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R. (1996). Some characteristics of a developmental theory for early onset delinquency. In M. F. Lenzenweger & J. J. Haugaard (Eds.), Frontiers of developmental psychopathology (pp. 81–124). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R. (in preparation). Mechanisms for infant and toddler processes that produce negative outcomes.

  • Patterson, G. R., Forgatch, M. S., Yoerger, K., & Stoolmiller, M. (1998). Variables that initiate and maintain an early-onset trajectory for juvenile offending. Development and Psychopathology, 10, 541–547.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R., DeGarmo, D., & Knutson, N. (in press). Hyperactive and antisocial behaviors: Comorbid or two points on same process? Development and Psychopathology.

  • Patterson, G. R., Littman, R. A., & Bricker, W. (1967). Assertive behavior in children: A step toward a theory of aggression. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 32(5), 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R., Reid, J. B., & Dishion, T. J. (1992). A social interactional approach: Vol. 4: Antisocial boys. Eugene, OR: Castalia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R., & Yoerger, K. (1997). A developmental model for late-onset delinquency. In D. W. Osgood (Ed.), Motivation and delinquency: Nebraska Symposium on Motivation (Vol. 44, pp. 119–177). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R., & Yoerger, K. (1999). Intraindividual growth in covert antisocial behavior: A necessary precursor to chronic and adult arrests? Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 9, 24–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poe, J., Dishion, T. J., Griesler, P., & Andrews, D. W. (1990). Topic code (Unpublished coding manual). Eugene: Oregon Social Learning Center.

  • Reid, J. B. (1993). Prevention of conduct disorders before and after school entry: Relating interventions to development findings. Journal of Development and Psychopathology, 5, 243–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, J. B., Eddy, J. M., Stoolmiller, M., Fetrow, R., & Jordan, K. (1998). Distal outcomes of a prevention program targeting the conduct disorders. Paper presented at the Society for Prevention Research, Salt Lake City.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1994). Comorbidity: Meanings and mechanisms. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 1, 100–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, R. J., & Laub, J. H. (1993). Crime in the making: Pathways and turning points through life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, D. S., & Winslow, E. B. (1997). Precursors and correlates of antisocial behavior from infancy to preschool. In D. M. Stoff, J. Breiling, & J.D. Maser (Eds.), Handbook of antisocial behavior (pp. 148–158). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, J., West, L., Stockemer, V., Gibbons, S., & Almquist-Parks, L. (1996). A social learning model of peer choice in the natural environment. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 17, 215–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoolmiller, M., & Eddy, M. (1994). The role of unsupervised wandering and delinquent peers in male adolescent delinquent behavior. Paper presented at the Third Annual Prevention Conference, Washington, DC.

  • Sutherland, E. H. (1947). Principles of criminology (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornberry, T. P., & Krohn, M. D. (1997). Peers, drug use, and delinquency. In D. M. Stoff, J. Breiling, & J. D. Maser (Eds.), Handbook of antisocial behavior (pp. 218–233). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay, R. E., McCord, J., Boileau, H., Charlebois, P., Gagnon, C., LeBlanc, M., & Larivee, S. (1991). Can disruptive boys be helped to become competent? Psychiatry, 54, 148–161.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Patterson, G.R., Dishion, T.J. & Yoerger, K. Adolescent Growth in New Forms of Problem Behavior: Macro- and Micro-Peer Dynamics. Prev Sci 1, 3–13 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010019915400

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010019915400

Navigation