An investigation into the empirical relationship between time with peers, friendship, and delinquency

•We discuss the relationship between time spent with peers, friendship quality, and delinquency.•We discuss reasons for investigating the causal order for this relationship.•We find that prior delinquency leads to more time with peers.•We find that prior delinquency has no significant effect on friendship quality or closeness to peers.•We devote considerable attention to methodological concerns, but note consistent findings across methods and measures.

PurposeMuch of the research on peer influence has examined the relationship between peer associations and delinquency. Relatively little empirical research has addressed the effects of delinquent behavior on peer intimacy and time spent with peers. Our research attempts to fill these gaps in the literature as we hypothesize that, net of peer delinquency, delinquents spend more time with their peers but are less closely attached to their peers.MethodsUsing data from two waves of the National Youth Survey (NYS), we present two sets of regression models to account for selection bias resulting from whether respondents reported having friends. To assess the stability of our findings, we supplement our presented findings with extensive use of alternate estimation strategies.ResultsConclusions regarding our hypotheses do not vary by estimation strategy. Delinquents spend more time with their peers, but delinquents and non-delinquents do not report differences in closeness to their peers.ConclusionsGiven our control variables, our finding introduces complexity in the causal priority between time spent with peers and delinquency. Prior delinquency may be a predictor of more time with peers, but partly as an avenue for opportunities for crime, not for the sake of friendship.