Early adolescents' social standing in peer groups: behavioral correlates of stability and change.
Sociometric nominations, social cognitive maps, and self-report questionnaires were completed in consecutive years by 327 students (56% girls) followed longitudinally from grade 7 to grade 8 to examine the stability of social standing in peer groups and correlates of changes in social standing. Social preference, perceived popularity, network centrality, and leadership were moderately stable from grade 7 to grade 8. Alcohol use and relational aggression in grade 7 predicted changes in social preference and centrality, respectively, between grade 7 and grade 8, but these effects were moderated by gender and ethnicity. Changes in social standing from grade 7 to grade 8 were unrelated to grade 8 physical aggression, relational aggression, and alcohol use after controlling for the grade 7 corollaries of these behaviors. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for understanding links between social standing and problem behaviors during adolescence.
Lansford
Jennifer E
JE
Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. lansford@duke.edu
Killeya-Jones
Ley A
LA
Miller
Shari
S
Costanzo
Philip R
PR
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D012963:Sociometric Techniques; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires