Who Influences Whom? Examining Self-Control and Delinquent Peer Dynamics among Justice-Involved Youth

The connection between one’s level of self-control and association with delinquent peers has been the subject of ongoing scholarly debate, yet it is unclear if these two constructs operate independently or mutually influence each other over time. Using data from the Pathways to Desistance study, this study longitudinally examined the potential reciprocal relationship between self-control and delinquent peer association. Data from 1,354 adolescents (baseline M age = 16.04 ± 1.14 years, 86.4% male, 41.4% Black) with previous involvement in the juvenile justice system for serious offending were examined across seven years. Results from a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) indicated that both constructs exerted reciprocal effects, where higher self-control aligned with reduced involvement with delinquent peers, and greater delinquent peer association coincided with diminished self-control. However, the influence of self-control on delinquent peer associations became more stable in later waves, and the paths from self-control to delinquent peer association were stronger and observed more frequently than paths from delinquent peer association to self-control. Overall, the findings suggest that while peer groups are important during adolescence, as individuals transition into emerging adulthood, self-control plays an increasingly central role in associating with delinquent peers.