TY - JOUR
T1 - Segregating students on the margin
T2 - Peer relationships in alternative charter high schools
AU - Mattern, Cynthia
AU - Nakagawa, Kathryn
PY - 2003/10/2
Y1 - 2003/10/2
N2 - This study examined peer relationships among "at-risk" students segregated in alternative education programs at charter schools. We studied how peer relationships among groups of segregated at-risk students were related to the amount and kind of delinquent acts students committed, and we explored how peer relationships for the students differed by gender. Two theories were tested in this study: interpersonal strain theory, which suggests that individuals commit delinquent acts due to negative peer relationships (e.g., difficulty making friends, being put down by others), and differential association theory, which argues that individuals are delinquent due to association with delinquent peers. A survey was administered to 135 students (82 girls and 53 boys) enrolled in charter schools offering alternative education programs for at-risk adolescents. Overall, gender was found to be the strongest predictor of delinquent behavior, with boys reporting more delinquency than girls. Correlation and regression analyses indicated that, in these segregated settings, students who reported getting along better with their peers were also more likely to report increased delinquent behavior. For example, getting along well with members of the opposite sex was related to increased property offenses for girls and increased offenses involving force for boys. Implications for alternative education settings are discussed.
AB - This study examined peer relationships among "at-risk" students segregated in alternative education programs at charter schools. We studied how peer relationships among groups of segregated at-risk students were related to the amount and kind of delinquent acts students committed, and we explored how peer relationships for the students differed by gender. Two theories were tested in this study: interpersonal strain theory, which suggests that individuals commit delinquent acts due to negative peer relationships (e.g., difficulty making friends, being put down by others), and differential association theory, which argues that individuals are delinquent due to association with delinquent peers. A survey was administered to 135 students (82 girls and 53 boys) enrolled in charter schools offering alternative education programs for at-risk adolescents. Overall, gender was found to be the strongest predictor of delinquent behavior, with boys reporting more delinquency than girls. Correlation and regression analyses indicated that, in these segregated settings, students who reported getting along better with their peers were also more likely to report increased delinquent behavior. For example, getting along well with members of the opposite sex was related to increased property offenses for girls and increased offenses involving force for boys. Implications for alternative education settings are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3042517845&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=3042517845&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:3042517845
SN - 1099-839X
VL - 6
JO - Current Issues in Education
JF - Current Issues in Education
ER -