NCJ Number
216607
Journal
Criminology Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2006 Pages: 775-805
Date Published
November 2006
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether friendship networks could account for the different rates of violence observed among racial-ethnic groups and evaluated whether race influences the degree to which friendship characteristics predicted adolescent violence.
Abstract
The results revealed that the patterning and structuring of adolescent friendship networks were significantly related to racial-ethnic differences in violence. Specific findings indicated that Black and Hispanic youth engaged in significantly more violence than their White counterparts, even after controlling for family and individual characteristics. This finding is consistent with previous research and underscores the importance of addressing racial-ethnic differences in violence. Other findings indicated that racial heterogeneity was related to decreased engagement in violence among Blacks, suggesting that racial homogeneity might be detrimental to Blacks. Data were drawn from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which surveyed U.S. adolescents, their parents, their friends, and their schools about demographic characteristics, friendship network, family characteristics, and delinquent and violent behavior. Data were analyzed using bivariate and logistic regression models. Future research should focus on why racial heterogeneity of friendships has different influences on Black and White youth. Tables, figures, footnotes, references