title: Peer rejection and social information-processing factors in the development of aggressive behavior problems in children.
abstract: The relation between social rejection and growth in antisocial behavior was investigated. In Study 1,259 boys and girls (34% African American) were followed from Grades 1 to 3 (ages 6-8 years) to Grades 5 to 7 (ages 10-12 years). Early peer rejection predicted growth in aggression. In Study 2,585 boys and girls (16% African American) were followed from kindergarten to Grade 3 (ages 5-8 years), and findings were replicated. Furthermore, early aggression moderated the effect of rejection, such that rejection exacerbated antisocial development only among children initially disposed toward aggression. In Study 3, social information-processing patterns measured in Study 1 were found to mediate partially the effect of early rejection on later aggression. In Study 4, processing patterns measured in Study 2 replicated the mediation effect. Findings are integrated into a recursive model of antisocial development.
authors.affiliation: Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-90264, USA. Dodge@Duke.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dodge
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lansford
authors.forename: Virginia Salzer
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Burks
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.forename: Reid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception