Citation

Denault AS, Poulin F. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 2012; 44(2): 83-92.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/a0025705

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine whether youths' perceptions of the level of deviancy in their organized activity peer group predicted an increase in their antisocial behaviours and substance use. Their prior behaviour and the level of codeviance with their friends were controlled. Moderators of this association were also examined, including characteristics of youths (i.e., gender) and activity contexts (i.e., type, degree of supervision, age and gender composition of the peer group). Participating youths (N = 185; Mage = 14.34, 60% girls) were surveyed in Grades 8 and 9 using phone interviews and questionnaires.

RESULTS revealed that peer group deviancy predicted increases in youths' problem behaviours after controlling for covariates. In addition, this association was moderated by the age composition of the activity peer group for antisocial behaviours and by activity type for substance use. Overall, these findings draw attention to the possibility of negative peer group dynamics in organized activities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords

Age Differences; Antisocial Behavior; Behavior Problems; Drug Usage; Human Sex Differences; Leisure Time; Peer Relations; Peers; Recreation; Social Influences