PROVO, Utah — Headed by BYU professors Bruce A. Chadwick and Brent L. Top, researchers have evaluated the effects of peer influences, family attachments, religious involvement, personality traits, school involvement and delinquency among LDS adolescents.
The authors wanted to find how much the above factors could actually be held responsible for delinquency among LDS youth. They also wanted to know whether the relationship between delinquency and religion is a function of youth internalizing religious principles or rather the consequence of living in a highly religious community.
In relation to the influences that cause LDS adolescent delinquency, they found that peer influence turned out to be "the strongest predictor of delinquency." That is, the constant insisting of peers to do something wrong has a stronger effect than any other factor contributing to teenage delinquency. In essence, they determined that those with whom children spend time does make a difference.
"Parents should be aware of the kinds of influence their children are being hit with," said Brother Chadwick. "The ultimate effect of negative peer pressure on teens is quite severe."