Citation

de Kemp RAT, Vermulst AA, Finkenauer C, Scholte RHJ, Overbeek G, Rommes EWM, Engels RCME. J. Early Adolesc. 2009; 29(4): 497-517.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0272431608324474

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The article discusses a three-wave longitudinal study that investigates the relationship between self-control and aggressive and delinquent behavior of early adolescent boys and girls. The sample consists of 1,012 Dutch adolescents (mean age = 12.3) in their first year of secondary education. Structural equation modeling analyses reveal that high levels of self-control consistently decrease aggressive and delinquent behavior in the subsequent 6 months follow-up intervals. Results for the total sample do not support the hypothesis that self-control is influenced by previous levels of aggression or delinquency. For boys, the partial evidence found indicates reciprocal effects of self-control and delinquency.