Plenty, Stephanie , Knut Sundell | 2015
Deviant Behavior Volume 36, Issue 7, pages 565-580.
DOI:10.1080/01639625.2014.951569
Abstract
This study examines if graffiti initiation leads to greater deviant behavior. Swedish students (N = 1,010) completed questionnaires in grades 7, 8, and 9 (aged 14 to 16 years). Students who initiated tagging or graffiti art in grade 8 consistently reported higher rates of deviant behavior 12 months later. However, graffiti initiation did not increase the likelihood of most behaviors after the effect of confounding factors from the individual, peer, and family domains were accounted for. The findings indicate that other confounding risk factors should be considered when understanding links between graffiti involvement and future criminality.
