Family Relationship Quality and Contact with Deviant Peers as Predictors of Adolescent Problem Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Gender

This investigation examines how family relationship quality and contact with deviant peers (CDP) contributed to change in problem behaviors in a sample of German adolescents (M age = 14.6 years). In particular, the authors were interested in whether gender of the adolescent and parent moderated these associations, and whether individual differences in the average level and/or changes in family and peer risk factors predicted change in problem behaviors across a 12- to 18-month period. Two waves of data collected from 248 adolescents, mothers (N = 248), and fathers (N = 176) were analyzed using path analysis. Results revealed that CDP was directly associated with increases in problem behaviors, whereas family influence on problem behaviors was indirect and varied as a function of gender. Specifically, family cohesion and closeness with fathers were associated with females'CDP only. Findings are discussed in terms of theories positing females' sensitivity to family stress and the fathers' role for females' behavioral development.