NCJ Number
196070
Journal
Criminology Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 401-434
Editor(s)
Robert J. Bursik Jr.
Date Published
May 2002
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This article presents a study of the relationship between adolescent delinquency, adult criminal behavior, and antisocial romantic relationships in young adulthood.
Abstract
The authors conducted a longitudinal study of a sample of 236 subjects to explore the relationship between romantic relationship quality and crime. Three types of relationships were studied, exclusive romantic union without cohabitation, cohabiting unmarried partners, and married couples. The measures employed in the study were adolescent delinquency, involvement in an adolescent deviant peer group, young adult criminal behavior, involvement with an adult antisocial romantic partner, romantic relationship quality, job attachment, and the presence of adult deviant friends. The research revealed several key gender differences. For women, antisocial romantic relationships corresponded to increased incidence of criminal activity. Additionally, a woman’s social support network including strong job attachment, conventional adult friends, and a conventional romantic partner reduced the likelihood that a formerly delinquent juvenile female would engage in adult criminal activity. For males, this reduction effect was related only to conventional adult friendships. 4 figures, 3 tables, 48 references