MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: Anticipating the “Ball and Chain”? Reciprocal Associations Between Marital Expectations and Delinquency

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2016

ISSN: 00222445

DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12328

Abstract: Marriage has been identified as a mechanism that may explain decreased delinquency among young adults, but whereas marriage is increasingly delayed, crime continues to decrease across the transition to adulthood. Most adolescents and young adults expect to marry one day, and these expectations may suppress delinquency. Conversely, increased delinquency may also predict decreased marital expectations. Longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 cohort (N = 7,057), a sample of youth who were aged 12 to 17 years in 1997, were used to examine the reciprocal association between an expressed expectation to marry soon and participation in delinquent behavior. Results from an autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation model suggested that greater expectations to marry were significantly associated with less delinquent activity 1 year later. Greater delinquent activity was not significantly associated with subsequent marital expectations. Youth with the greatest expectations to marry may temper their behavior even before vows are taken.

Url: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/jomf.12328

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Arocho, Rachel; Kamp Dush, Claire M.

Periodical (Full): Journal of Marriage and Family

Issue: 5

Volume: 78

Pages: 1371-1381

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop