High School Curriculum Track and Adolescent Association with Delinquent Friends

Abstract

Drawing on ecological perspectives and sociological theories of deviance, this study explored the influence on adolescent delinquency of two potential intersections between high school curriculum and student friendship groups: (a) curriculum track as an organizer of delinquent friendship groups, and (b) curriculum track as a moderator of friendship relations. Structural equation analyses of 2,899 students provide support for the second intersection but not the first. Once academic achievement is taken into account, lower-track students were not more likelyto associate with delinquents, though students from all tracks were more likelyto be delinquent a year later when theydid have such associations. Nevertheless, lower-track students were more vulnerable to the negative influences of delinquent friends. Further analysis reveals that this increased vulnerabilitycould arise from lower bonding to conventional institutions and pathways of achievement among lower-track students.