Why Girls Go Delinquent.

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Author: Unknown

TEENAGERS

Girls who go through puberty earlier than their peers are more likely to be involved in delinquency, but not for the reasons often suspected, according to an Ohio State University, Columbus, study. It has long been speculated that early-developing girls were nudged into misconduct because they had more older friends--and more male acquaintances. Instead, new research suggests that the key factors appear to be the fact that these girls are dating and that they have more peers--regardless of age--who already are involved in wrongdoing.

"Girls who develop early aren't any more likely to have male school friends, or older school friends, than their less-developed counterparts," maintains Dana Haynie, assistant professor of sociology. "But going through puberty early does expose these girls to other social factors that put them at risk for delinquency."

Data from a total of 5,477 girls--in grades seven through 12--were included in the study. The adolescents were asked a variety of questions about their physical development, misbehavior, and relationships with friends and parents. Their parents and friends also were interviewed. Overall, as expected, girls who were more physically developed than their peers were more likely to be involved in all types of delinquency. They exhibited a 27% increase in minor misbehavior compared to those with average development. Moreover, girls who were less developed than average displayed lower levels of impropriety than those experiencing average pubertal development.