Opvoeding, delinquente vrienden en delinquent gedrag van jongeren

Most theoretical models emphasize the impact of inept parenting in childhood and the increasing role of deviant friends on delinquent behaviour in early adolescence. In this transition phase, parenting behaviours might have indirect effects by affecting their offspring susceptibility to delinquent behaviour of friends. In the current study, we used longitudinal data of early adolescents who were interviewed three times in a period of one year. Contrary to our expectations, our findings showed that delinquent behaviour of best friends at school were not related to higher levels of adolescent's delinquency. In the first year of secondary education, girls and boys appeared to select friends with similar levels of delinquency. We found evidence that increasing delinquency could be explained by low levels of parental support and monitoring and high levels of psychological control.