ERIC Number: EJ1169902
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Mar
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1538-4799
EISSN: N/A
Peer Network Dynamics and the Amplification of Antisocial to Violent Behavior among Young Adolescents in Public Middle Schools
Kornienko, Olga; Dishion, Thomas J.; Ha, Thao
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, v26 n1 p21-30 Mar 2018
This study examined longitudinal changes in peer network selection and influence associated with self-reported antisocial behavior (AB) and violent behavior (VB) over the course of middle school in a sample of ethnically diverse adolescents. Youth and families were randomly assigned to a school-based intervention focused on the prevention of substance use. Using a longitudinal social network modeling approach, we found that students with similar levels of AB were more likely to affiliate during the transition from sixth to seventh grade (peer selection). Higher levels of AB in the seventh grade led to growth in network size by eighth grade. No peer selection effects documented for VB, but youth became more similar to total levels of VB reported by their peers between seventh and eighth grades (peer influence). As expected, AB was positively associated with VB levels. Random assignment to intervention condition affected peer selection at Grade 7 but did not reduce levels of self-reported AB or VB. These findings suggest that managing peer networks using a variety of strategies is likely to reduce peer contagion for AB and VB in a public middle school setting. We discuss emerging intervention strategies for the management and the prevention of emotional and behavioral disorders.
Descriptors: Longitudinal Studies, Peer Groups, Correlation, Peer Influence, Antisocial Behavior, Middle School Students, Intervention, Educational Environment, Prevention, Emotional Disturbances, Behavior Disorders, Student Diversity, Social Networks, Network Analysis, Rating Scales, Student Attitudes, Violence, Statistical Analysis, Grade 6
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2814
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse (DHHS/PHS); National Institutes of Health (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: DA07031; DA13773; L30DA042448