Adolescent Romantic Relationships and Delinquency Involvement

Abstract

While much attention has centered on the role of peer influence for adolescent delinquency, that of romantic partners has been largely neglected. Recent analyses of romantic relationships during the adolescent period suggest their general importance to development; research highlights that adolescents themselves frequently describe these relations as relatively intimate and influential. Thus, while classic theoretical frameworks such as differential association theory have often centered on the role of peers, their general logic is consistent with the notion that such relationships may indeed "matter" as a source of influence on delinquent behavior. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health are well suited for examining the role of romantic partners because they allow for the identification and recreation of friendship networks and connections between romantic : www.cpc.unc.edu/addhealth. 6 HAYNIE.DOC 1/25/2005 8:07 PM 178 HAYNIE ET AL. partners. Forging these interconnections, we link friends' and romantic partners' delinquency to respondents' own delinquency, enabling an examination of romantic partner influence on adolescent delinquency, beyond that influence associated with friends' behaviors. Drawing on theories of gender stratification, we also explore whether the effect of romantic partners' behavior is conditioned by gender. Findings reveal that romantic partners' delinquency exerts a unique effect on respondents' delinquency net of friends' delinquency and control variables. Additionally, romantic partners' deviance has a stronger effect on female involvement in minor deviance. We find no evidence, however, that gender conditions the strength of romantic partners' more serious delinquency on respondents' serious delinquency.Recent attention directed to the significance of social contexts suggests that adolescent behavior, including delinquency, can be better understood by examining the social environments in which adolescents are embedded. One particularly important context is romantic relationships. While a heightened interest in the opposite sex is a central characteristic of adolescence (Collins, 2003; Sullivan, 1953), much of the research on delinquency emphasizes the influence of peers (for example, Akers, Krohn

Pathways to Persistence: Female Offending from 14 to 25

“…As was found in the present study, in addition to the influence of ones' peers, deviant romantic partners also serve as a unique source of antisocial influence associated with youths' engagement in delinquency [23]. Of relevance to the sex comparisons of the present study, past research suggests female adolescents may be more vulnerable to the influence of a romantic partner than male adolescents, at least for minor acts of deviance [23,43]. Also consistent with our findings is research that finds youth who are exposed to violence, specifically domestic violence, are more likely to be referred to the juvenile court than non-exposed youth [25].…”

“…For example, decades of research have documented the relation between delinquency and ones' association with deviant peers [14,72]. As was found in the present study, in addition to the influence of ones' peers, deviant romantic partners also serve as a unique source of antisocial influence associated with youths' engagement in delinquency [23]. Of relevance to the sex comparisons of the present study, past research suggests female adolescents may be more vulnerable to the influence of a romantic partner than male adolescents, at least for minor acts of deviance [23,43].…”

Interethnic dating preferences of Roma and non-Roma secondary school students

“…The role of interethnic romantic relationships may manifest in decreased prejudice towards minorities, in educational performance (Giordano et al 2008), in deviant behavior (Haynie et al 2005), and in social mobility through marriage.…”

“…Romantic partners influence each other in several domains, similarly to friendship relations. Dating with high achievers improve one's own school performance (Giordano et al 2008), but smoking and drinking behavior, and delinquency of the partner may induce engagement in such activity (Haynie et al 2005, Kreager & Haynie 2011, Kreager, Haynie, & Hopfer 2013. Dating relationships also function as bridges among subgroups of friends, therefore it allows to spread these behaviors across the adolescent networks (Kreager & Haynie 2011).…”

The Association Between Sexual Health and Physical, Mental, and Social Health in Adolescent Women

“…23,24 For example, the self-efficacy young women use to negotiate condom use and to refuse unwanted sex may also help them resist peer pressure for tobacco, alcohol and drug use, 25 or for engaging in delinquent behaviors. 26 Likewise, a relationship characterized by intimacy and trust may foster better overall happiness and selfesteem. 27 Finally, the ability to balance or reconcile intense emotions is linked to lower levels of depression and thrill seeking, 28 perhaps indicating ongoing experiences with partners would elicit a similar effect.…”