RT Article
T1 Online Peers and Delinquency: Distinguishing Influence, Selection, and Receptivity Effects for Offline and Online Peers with Longitudinal Data
JF Journal of developmental and life-course criminology
VO 10
IS 4
SP 573
OP 600
A1 McCuddy, Timothy
A2 Gallupe, Owen
A2 Weulen Kranenbarg, Marleen 1990-
A2 Weerman, Frank M. 1968-
LA English
YR 2024
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1927084733
AB The field of criminology has spent nearly a century investigating the link between peers and delinquency, but only recently turned its attention to the online peer context. We examine three ways online and offline peer delinquency are related to self-reported delinquency. In theory, online peer delinquency may influence delinquent behavior independently of the influence from the physical presence of delinquent peers. Adolescents may also select online peers who are similar to their offline peers, and experiences online may contribute to being more receptive to offline peer influence. We use survey data from a longitudinal sample of middle and high school students in a large, metropolitan area, which includes measures of online peer support for delinquency and perceived delinquency of offline peers. Employing path models, we find that perceiving to have offline delinquent peers is partly related to previous behavior but also to previous experiences with online friends. We also find that the measures of both offline and online peer delinquency are independently related to later self-reported delinquency, and online peer support for violence can enhance the apparent influence of offline violent peers. Overall, this study illustrates that research examining delinquent peer influence should also include online peer processes.
K1 Social Media
K1 Cyberspace
K1 Delinquent peers
K1 Peer influence
K1 Online peers
K1 Social Psychology
K1 Social Behavior
K1 Social Influence
K1 Prosocial Behavior
K1 Deviance
K1 Biosocial Criminology
DO 10.1007/s40865-025-00268-7