title: Brief report: Peer group influences and adolescent internalizing problems as mediated by effortful control.
abstract: Internalizing problems in adolescence encompass behaviors directed inward at the self (Colman, Wadsworth, Croudace, & Jones, 2007). Several predictors have been linked to internalizing problems including antisocial and prosocial peers (Cartwright, 2007; Chung, 2010). Effortful control, a component of self-regulation, is one factor that could mediate the relationship between peer behaviors and individual outcomes. This study assessed the relationship between peer behaviors, effortful control, and adolescent internalizing problems. Participants were 151 middle school adolescents (M = 12.16 years old) who completed self-report questionnaires regarding behaviors of their peers, perceptions of effortful control, and experiences of internalizing problems. Structural equation modeling (SEM) yielded a significant negative relationship between antisocial peers and effortful control, and a significant positive relationship between prosocial peers and effortful control. In addition, effortful control significantly mediated the relationship between prosocial peers and internalizing problems, but not for antisocial peers. Implications for interventions related to adolescent health were discussed.
authors: Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue Stop 8112, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA. Electronic address: dysorach@isu.edu.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Dyson
authors: Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue Stop 8112, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA. Electronic address: robegai3@isu.edu.
authors: Gail C
authors: GC
authors: Robertson
authors: Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Avenue Stop 8112, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA. Electronic address: wongmari@isu.ed.
authors: Maria M
authors: MM
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D000067074:Peer Influence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D000068356:Self-Control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Antisocial; Effortful control; Internalizing problems; Peer group; Prosocial