Sleeping away from home: a vehicle for adolescent delinquency?

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between persistently sleeping away from the home as a predictor of adolescent delinquency in a largely Latino sample of 91 adolescents. Design/methodology/approach This study employs multiple linear regressions to examine the relationship between sleeping away from the home (IV) and antisocial behavior and substance use (DVs) with dangerous neighborhood characteristics as a moderator. Findings Results show that sleeping away from the home on a persistent basis is a significant predictor of antisocial behavior and substance use. Neighborhood characteristics moderated the effect of sleeping away on substance use only. One possible explanation includes opportunities for increased time with deviant peers that is created by persistently sleeping away from home. Additionally, sleeping away from the home may allow adolescents from strict households to opportunistically engage in delinquent behavior in households with less strict rules. Originality/value Although sleeping away is a common behavior often encouraged by parents as a part of social learning, there is evidence to suggest that it could be potentially detrimental, particularly amplified when the adolescent lives in more dangerous neighborhoods. To date, this is the first study to examine the effects of persistently sleeping away from the home on adolescent delinquency.