Exploring interactions of self‐control, morality and peer delinquency among justice‐involved juveniles: Random‐effects models

This study extends situational action theory (SAT) and its developmental ecological action (DEA) model by examining within- and between-individual variations in offending among 1354 serious adolescent offenders using Pathways to Desistance data. It highlights the interplay between morality, self-control, and delinquent peer associations, finding lower offending rates among adolescents with stronger morality, higher self-control, and fewer delinquent peers. Criminogenic exposure increases and declines in morality or self-control heighten crime risk. Self-control is most effective in reducing offending when paired with strong moral values, especially in highly criminogenic environments. Morality's influence grows as self-control strengthens or peer delinquency declines, supporting the DEA model's emphasis on the dynamic interaction of crime propensity and environmental influences.