Citation

Staff J, Kreager DA. Soc. Forces 2008; 87(1): 445-471.

Affiliation

The Pennsylvania State University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Social Forces Journal, Publisher University of North Carolina Press)

DOI

10.1353/sof.0.0068

PMID

25484458

Abstract

Research shows that peer status in adolescence is positively associated with school achievement and adjustment. However, subculture theories of juvenile delinquency and school-based ethnographies suggest that (1) disadvantaged boys are often able to gain some forms of peer status through violence and (2) membership in violent groups undermines educational attainment. Building on these ideas, we use peer network data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to examine whether peer status within highly violent groups increases male risks of high school dropout. Consistent with the subcultural argument, we find that disadvantaged boys with high status in violent groups are at much greater risks of high school dropout than other students.

Language: en