Social Support from Parents, Teachers and Peers on the Relationship between Negative Life Events and Adolescents Delinquent Behaviour

Abstract

Negative life events could be a risk factor for delinquent behaviour of adolescents. Social support (from teachers, peers and parents) is a protective factor against delinquency and could decrease delinquent behaviour or moderate the association between negative life events and delinquency. The current longitudinal study investigates if social support from teachers, peers and/or parents weakens the association between negative life events and delinquency.. The TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS) was used to analyse this research subject. 1497 Adolescents, aged between 12 and 18 years old, participated in this current study. The results showed that the frequency and intensity of negative life events did not have a significant effect on delinquency. Furthermore the three forms of social support did not prove a moderating factor on delinquent behaviour due to negative life events. From the three forms of social support only social support from teachers could decrease delinquent behaviour. Future research could look more into the effects of teachers on preventing delinquency.