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Testing for Sex Moderation of the Moral Neutralization-Mediated Peer Influence Effect in Early Adolescent Youth

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Title: Testing for Sex Moderation of the Moral Neutralization-Mediated Peer Influence Effect in Early Adolescent Youth
Language: English
Authors: Glenn D. Walters (ORCID 0000-0002-7219-1542)
Source: Journal of Early Adolescence. 2026 46(4):556-581.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 26
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Gender Differences, Peer Influence, Delinquency, Moral Values, Early Adolescents, Middle School Students, Juvenile Gangs, Violence, Prevention, Attitudes
Geographic Terms: Arizona (Phoenix), Nebraska (Lincoln), Nebraska (Omaha), New Mexico, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
DOI: 10.1177/02724316251334966
ISSN: 0272-4316
1552-5449
Abstract: This study examines whether sex moderates the relationship between peer delinquency and participant delinquency as mediated by moral neutralization. Participants for this study were 2209 early adolescent youth (1053 boys and 1156 girls) from the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) study. In the current moderated mediation analysis, peer delinquency served as the independent variable, moral neutralization served as the mediating variable, delinquency variety served as the dependent variable, and sex acted as a moderating variable. Results showed that the peer influence effect (peer delinquency [right arrow] moral neutralization [right arrow] delinquency variety), while significant in both boys and girls, was stronger in girls than in boys. This provides further evidence that sex is capable of moderating important criminological relationships and that a fine-tuned analysis of crime and delinquency requires that we investigate potentially important sex differences in criminological constructs and the theories upon which they are based.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1497569
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Testing for Sex Moderation of the Moral Neutralization-Mediated Peer Influence Effect in Early Adolescent Youth
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Glenn+D%2E+Walters%22">Glenn D. Walters</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7219-1542">0000-0002-7219-1542</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Early+Adolescence%22"><i>Journal of Early Adolescence</i></searchLink>. 2026 46(4):556-581.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 26
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Influence%22">Peer Influence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Delinquency%22">Delinquency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+Values%22">Moral Values</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Adolescents%22">Early Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Juvenile+Gangs%22">Juvenile Gangs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Violence%22">Violence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prevention%22">Prevention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes%22">Attitudes</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arizona+%28Phoenix%29%22">Arizona (Phoenix)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nebraska+%28Lincoln%29%22">Nebraska (Lincoln)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nebraska+%28Omaha%29%22">Nebraska (Omaha)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+Mexico%22">New Mexico</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pennsylvania+%28Philadelphia%29%22">Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/02724316251334966
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  Data: 0272-4316<br />1552-5449
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study examines whether sex moderates the relationship between peer delinquency and participant delinquency as mediated by moral neutralization. Participants for this study were 2209 early adolescent youth (1053 boys and 1156 girls) from the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) study. In the current moderated mediation analysis, peer delinquency served as the independent variable, moral neutralization served as the mediating variable, delinquency variety served as the dependent variable, and sex acted as a moderating variable. Results showed that the peer influence effect (peer delinquency [right arrow] moral neutralization [right arrow] delinquency variety), while significant in both boys and girls, was stronger in girls than in boys. This provides further evidence that sex is capable of moderating important criminological relationships and that a fine-tuned analysis of crime and delinquency requires that we investigate potentially important sex differences in criminological constructs and the theories upon which they are based.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1497569
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1497569
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        Value: 10.1177/02724316251334966
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 26
        StartPage: 556
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Peer Influence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Delinquency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Moral Values
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Early Adolescents
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      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Juvenile Gangs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Violence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prevention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Arizona (Phoenix)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nebraska (Lincoln)
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      – SubjectFull: Nebraska (Omaha)
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      – SubjectFull: New Mexico
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Testing for Sex Moderation of the Moral Neutralization-Mediated Peer Influence Effect in Early Adolescent Youth
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