Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
College of Education and Human Services
Department
Learning Sciences and Human Development
Committee Chair
Kristin L. Moilanen
Committee Co-Chair
Carol Markstrom
Committee Member
Aaron Metzger.
Abstract
Early childhood externalizing behaviors are a known risk factor for future problem behaviors (e.g., poor achievement, delinquency). The present study seeks to illuminate the pathway of early childhood externalizing behaviors to five adolescent delinquency types (i.e., violent offenses, property offenses, illicit drug use, licit drug use, and minor offenses), in addition to overall delinquency. Study data came from two waves of the Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979 (CNLSY-79; N = 855, 52.4% male, 24.1% Hispanic, 36.6% Black, and 39.1% white). Boys engaged in higher levels of violent and property crimes, and black youth were less likely to engage in substance use than white teens. Contrary to predictions, externalizing problems at ages 4-5 years were not directly associated with any form of adolescent delinquency. Instead, the combinations of high levels of early externalizing and low levels of spanking led to high illicit substance use, and for European American teens only, high externalizing predicted involvement in property crimes. These findings suggest that risk factors vary by delinquency type.
Recommended Citation
Sias, Tandra Nicole, "A Developmental Perspective: Early Childhood Externalizing Behaviors Pathway to Delinquency in Adolescence" (2014). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 104.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/104