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Peer Influences on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems among Adolescents: A Longitudinal Social Network Analysis

  • Empirical Research
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Abstract

Adolescents who like each other may become more similar to each other with regard to internalizing and externalizing problems, though it is not yet clear which social mechanisms explain these similarities. In this longitudinal study, we analyzed four mechanisms that may explain similarity in adolescent peer networks with regard to externalizing and internalizing problems: selection, socialization, avoidance and withdrawal. At three moments during one school-year, we asked 542 adolescents (8th grade, M-age = 13.3 years, 51 % female) to report who they liked in their classroom, and their own internalizing and externalizing problems. Adolescents tend to prefer peers who have similar externalizing problem scores, but no significant selection effect was found for internalizing problems. Adolescents who share the same group of friends socialize each other and then become more similar with respect to externalizing problems, but not with respect to internalizing problems. We found no significant effects for avoidance or withdrawal. Adolescents may choose to belong to a peer group that is similar to them in terms of externalizing problem behaviors, and through peer group socialization (e.g., enticing, modelling, mimicking, and peer pressure) become more similar to that group over time.

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Author contributions

J.F. conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, participated in the data analysis and wrote the manuscript; M.v.G. critically revised the manuscript and participated in the data analysis; P.V. conceived of the study, supervised the entire project, and critically revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Education and Teacher Training, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130, 1018 VZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Janna Fortuin

  2. Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Mitch van Geel & Paul Vedder

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  1. Janna Fortuin
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  2. Mitch van Geel
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Correspondence to Mitch van Geel.

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Fortuin, J., van Geel, M. & Vedder, P. Peer Influences on Internalizing and Externalizing Problems among Adolescents: A Longitudinal Social Network Analysis. J Youth Adolescence 44, 887–897 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-014-0168-x

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