title: Contribution of peer deviancy training to the early development of conduct problems: mediators and moderators.
abstract: Three variables were tested as moderators of the relationship between peer deviancy training and child antisocial behavior in a longitudinal study of 267 boys and girls from ages 5.3 to 9.3 years. Deviancy training was directly measured by observation of the discourse and play of children with same-gender classmates. Peer deviancy training was significantly related to multi-setting child antisocial behavior from ages 5.3 to 9.3 years. Child impulsivity, poor parental discipline, and peer rejection were all significant moderators of that relationship, even in the context of their direct association with trajectories of antisocial behavior and after controlling for deviant peer affiliation. These moderator effects appeared to be associated with children's increased sensitivity to peer modeling and reinforcement of deviant discourse and play. Not all children are equally affected by peer deviancy training, and an array of intervention strategies are described that may serve to protect children from deviant peer influence.
authors.affiliation: Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260-0034, USA. james.snyder@wichita.edu <james.snyder@wichita.edu>
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McEachern
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schrepferman
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Just
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Shani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Ashton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lofgreen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D010988:Play and Playthings