Aggression, Social Acceptance, and Race as Predictors of Negative Adolescent Outcomes

doi:10.1097/00004583-199409000-00014

Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Volume 33, Issue 7, September 1994, Pages 1026-1035

https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199409000-00014 Get rights and content

ABSTRACT

Objective

The current study examined a mixed-race, longitudinal sample of 114 boys to assess the relative power of aggression, low peer acceptance, and race in predicting a broad range of adolescent outcomes and behaviors.

Method

Outcomes were assessed through self-report and through peer, teacher, and independent observer ratings.

Results

Results indicate that preadolescent levels of aggression are predictive of boys' subsequent adolescent involvement in marijuana, drugs, and alcohol and in delinquent activity. Aggression and low peer acceptance served as predictors of teacher, peer, and independent observer ratings of externalizing and internalizing behavior at follow-up. Results also indicate that peer ratings of social acceptance and of aggressive behavior operate differently across racial groups, when predicting to self-reported follow-up behaviors.

Conclusions

Aggressive and socially disliked boys are at risk for engaging in a progressive series of behaviors that increase their engagement in contranormative behavior. The moderating effects of race may be due to biases in elementary school peer ratings in mixed-race samples, or they may represent actual differences in how early risk markers operate with boys of different racial status.

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: This study was funded by research grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH 39989) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (DA 08453).

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ARTICLESAggression, Social Acceptance, and Race as Predictors of Negative Adolescent Outcomes

ABSTRACT

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

Drug Alcohol Depend

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

Clinical Psychology Review

A behavioral observation schedule for pupils and teachers

Psychology in the Schools

Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences

Dimensions and types of social status: across-age perspective

Developmental Psychology

A behavioral analysis of emerging social status in boys' groups

Child Dev

Predicting early adolescent disorder from childhood aggression and peer rejection

J Consult Clin Psychol

Antecedents of Self-Esteem