Categorization of ethnoracial differences in associations between contextual- and individual-level factors and trajectories of adolescent delinquent behaviors

Youth engagement in delinquent behaviors is associated with numerous adverse outcomes, including interpersonal difficulties, mental health challenges, and increased risk of juvenile justice system (JJS) involvement. While extensive research has documented that racial/ethnic minority youth are significantly overrepresented in the JJS, fewer studies have examined how developmental precursors of delinquent behaviors may operate differently across racial groups. Further, little work has tested explanations for these disparities. To address these gaps, the current study used latent growth curve modeling to test for ethnoracial differences in the frequency of delinquent behaviors during early adolescence among minoritized and White youth (Frequency Difference; Aim 1). Next, established correlates of delinquent behaviors (e.g., neighborhood disorder, deviant peer affiliation, parenting behaviors, callous-unemotional traits, and emotion regulation abilities) were examined to assess their prediction of both the intercept (indexed at the second timepoint) and change in delinquent behaviors over time (Aim 2a). Then, the current study examined whether the purported risk and protective factors differentially predicted trajectories of delinquent behaviors between White youth and ethnoracial minority youth (2b). Lastly, the current study explored whether these associations at the intercept were predictive for only White or minority youth (Type Difference) or if the magnitude of prediction varied between minority and White youth (Predictive Utility Difference; Aim 2c). Participants were drawn from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development-Social Development (ABCD-SD) substudy (at baseline: Nparticipants = 2,426 youth; Nfamilies = 2,147; 47.7% female; 47.9% White, 28.6% Black, 10.7% Hispanic, 1.6% Asian, 11.3% Other; Mage = 9.44 SD = 0.50 years). Analyses included data collected at baseline (Time 0), one year follow-up (Time 1), two-year follow-up (Time 2), three-year follow-up (Time 3), and four-year follow-up (Time 4). Caregivers provided reports on their perceptions of neighborhood disorder and their child’s engagement in delinquent behaviors. Youth reported on their deviant peer affiliation, parenting behaviors, callous-unemotional traits, emotion regulation abilities, and engagement in delinquent behaviors. Results showed ethnoracial differences in frequency of delinquent behaviors at each time point. Generally, minority youth reported higher levels than White youth. However, Hispanic parents rated their children’s delinquent behaviors similarly to White parents. Results of latent growth curve modeling analyses of ethnoracial differences in intercept levels and trajectories showed that risk/protective factors operate similarly across White youth and minority. Regarding the categorization, across both White–Black comparisons and White–Hispanic comparisons most support was found for Shared Factors or No Differences. Findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of ethnoracial differences in delinquent behaviors and can inform developmentally sensitive and tailored prevention and policy efforts.