abridged version of the article:

The study is the first to draw a direct line between a preference for loud, noisy, rebellious music in youngsters and minor delinquency at age 16.

Dr. Tom ter Bogt of Utrecht University in the Netherlands condicted a study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, that followed 149 boys and 160 girls from age 12 for four years. It
found 12-year-olds with strong preferences for hip-hop, heavy metal, gothic and
trance music got in trouble at age 12 and at age 16.

Ter Bogt emphasized that the study tracked “minor delinquency,” defined as vandalism, shoplifting and fighting, and not serious law-breaking and gangs.

Conversely, 12-year-olds who listened to R&B, rock, punk and techno
showed no rebellious behaviour at the younger age, but did when they got to age 16.

Kids who listened to jazz, classical and pop music stayed out of trouble at 12 and 16, the study found.

Previous studies have connected musical tastes among teenagers and behaviour, said ter Bogt, but this is the first to demonstrate how 12-year-old preferences predict 16-year-old
behaviour.

“What we believe happens if you have this taste for rebellious music, noisy
music, it brings you in contact with other kids with the same type of music
taste and you are contaminated by the behaviour in that group.

“If you listen to classical music or jazz, overall these kids tend to behave far less dramatically.”

The study found little difference between boys and girls, he said.

“I would suggest to parents if your 12-year-old child listens to very, very
noisy music, rebellious music, be aware of what kinds of friends he or she brings to the house.”

He compared musical tastes to a thermometer that can measure
how behaviour will develop.