Taste in music can predict a child's behavior in the future, especially whether he or she will be a delinquent adult, according to a new study. Researchers found that a preference to Rock, Goth or Punk at an early age is a strong predictor of future delinquent behavior.

"For an estimated 80% to 90% of adolescents aged 12to 18 years, music is an important medium that enhances their mood, helps them cope with problems, and helps them develop social identity," according to background information of the study. Teens in the U.S. listen to music for between 2 and 3 hours a day. The study tried to find if preferring a kind of music over another has any influence over a teen's risk of delinquency in the future.

Previous research has shown that teens that prefer punk, techno, hardcore are more likely to smoke and drink than teens that prefer popular or classic music.

The study included children from aged around 12 who were living in Netherland. All the study participants were a part of the Conflict and Management of Relationships study (2001-2005). Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their musical preference.

Study analysis showed that teens who were interested in different types of rock (like heavy metal, gothic or punk) or African American music (like rhythm and blues) and others like trance, techno or hardhouse had higher risk of being part of minor acts of delinquency than children who listened to popular music, jazz or classic.

"Liking music that goes against the mainstream at a young age is a strong predictor of future delinquency in kids," the authors write.

The study is published in the journal Pediatrics.

A related study had showed that people like rock 'n' roll as it brings out the "animal in us".