Childhood aggression, peer status, and social class as predictors of delinquency

Abstract

Measures of aggression, peer status, and social class, gathered during the subjects' childhoods, were assessed as predictors of later delinquency for 711 boys. Multiple regression analysis indicated that aggression was the most significant predictor of delinquency followed by social class as the second significant predictor. A descriptive analysis isolated characteristics of groups varying markedly in terms of differences in rates of delinquent outcomes.