The longitudinal association between school bonding and delinquency among adolescents

The present study examined the long-term, transactional associations between school bonding and delinquency among Japanese adolescents. Two hundred seventy-one students were recruited in seventh grade (Time 1; M age = 12.72, SD = 0.45, 50% girls) and followed up until eighth grade. Data were collected at two time points (December of the seventh grade and eighth grade). The results of the cross-lagged panel model showed that higher delinquency was associated with lower school bonding. On the other hand, school bonding was not associated with a decrease in delinquency. When gender differences were examined, an association was found between higher delinquent tendencies and fewer school bonding for both genders. School bonding was not associated with a decrease in delinquency for both genders. At seventh grade, a negative correlation between school bonding and delinquency was found only for girls, but not for boys. The results, along with future implications, are discussed from cultural and developmental perspectives. This study provided valuable insight into the relationship between school ties and delinquency among adolescents from non-Western cultures such as the Japanese culture. Comparing the results of this study with those of other cultures may support the idea of cultural diversity.