Choosing or being chosen by aggressive-disruptive peers: do they contribute to children's externalizing and internalizing problems?

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2004 Feb;32(1):53-65. doi: 10.1023/b:jacp.0000007580.77154.69.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate the extent to which aggressive-disruptive peers contribute to the development of externalizing and internalizing problems in children, while controlling for children's own behavior. We examined 2 sets of peers: (1) those that the child nominated as friends, and (2) those that nominated the child as a friend. The participants were 236 boys and girls attending 3rd to 5th grade at the beginning of the study, who were followed over a period of 2 years. Results showed that choosing more aggressive peers on the nomination procedure was associated with more externalizing problems and self-reported depressive symptomatology over time. On the other hand, being liked by more aggressive children generally was not associated with elevated externalizing or internalizing problems.

MeSH terms

  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / psychology*
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Loneliness / psychology
  • Male
  • New England
  • Peer Group*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Desirability*