This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Henry, B. Articles by Silva, P. A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Staying in School Protects Boys with Poor Self-regulation in Childhood from Later Crime: A Longitudinal Study

Colby College, Waterville, USA

Avshalom Caspi

University of London, UK and University of Wisconsin, USA

Terrie E. Moffitt

University of London, UK and University of Wisconsin, USA

HonaLee Harrington

University of Wisconsin, USA

Phil A. Silva

University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand

Based on a theoretical model that emphasises the distinction between individual and contextual determinants of antisocial behaviour, the current study examined whether school attendance throughout adolescence acted as a protective factor for individuals at risk for criminal behaviour in early adulthood. Specifically, Lack of Control, an index of self-regulation which has previously been shown to predict later criminal behaviour, was expected to interact with early school leaving to predict self-reports and official records of criminal behaviour collected at age 21. Multivariate regression analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction between school attendance, self-regulation, and sex. Among males, after controlling for the effects of socioeconomic status and IQ, the main effects for Lack of Control and school attendance were found to be significant; additionally, the interaction between Lack of Control and school attendance was significant, indicating that the strength of the relation between Lack of Control and criminal outcomes was moderated by school attendance. The main effects for Lack of Control and school attendance were significant for females, but the interaction between Lack of Control and school attendance was not significant. The protective effect of school attendance among males could not be accounted for by differences in familial disruption or adolescent delinquency.

International Journal of Behavioral Development, Vol. 23, No. 4, 1049-1073 (1999)
DOI: 10.1080/016502599383667


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. J. Schwartz, C. A. Mason, H. Pantin, Wei Wang, C. Hendricks Brown, A. E. Campo, and J. Szapocznik Relationships of Social Context and Identity to Problem Behavior Among High-Risk Hispanic Adolescents Youth Society, June 1, 2009; 40(4): 541 - 570. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. P. McCluskey, T. S. Bynum, and J. W. Patchin Reducing Chronic Absenteeism: an Assessment of an Early Truancy Initiative Crime Delinquency, April 1, 2004; 50(2): 214 - 234. [Abstract] [PDF]