Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Childhood Peer Relationship Problems and Young People's Involvement with Deviant Peers in Adolescence

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using prospective longitudinal data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study, this article examined the relationship between children's peer relationship problems in middle childhood and their subsequent risk of forming deviant peer affiliations in adolescence. The analysis proceeded in three steps. First, a structural equation model demonstrated a moderate association between early peer relationship problems and later deviant peer affiliations (r = .27). Second, the model was extended to include a latent variable measure of early conduct problems. This analysis revealed that when the confounding effects of concurrently measured conduct problems were taken into account, peer relationship problems in middle childhood were no longer significantly related to young people's choice of deviant peers in adolescence. Third, the model was further extended to include lagged variables, permitting an examination of possible reciprocal relationships between early conduct problems and peer relationship problems. Results suggested that both early peer relationship problems and adolescent deviant peer involvement are symptomatic of early child behavioral adjustment. The implications of these findings for explanations of deviant peer selection are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Cairns, R. B., Cairns, B. D., Neckerman, H. J., Gest, H. D., & Gariepy, J. L. (1988). Social networks and aggressive behavior: Peer support or peer rejection. Developmental Psychology, 24, 815–823.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coie, J. D., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (1983). A behavioral analysis of emerging social status in boys' groups. Child Development, 54, 1400–1416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coie, J. D., Lochman, J. E., Terry, R., & Hyman, C. (1992). Predicting early adolescent disorder from childhood aggression and peer rejection. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 783–792.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conners, C. K. (1969). A teacher rating scale for use in drug studies with children. American Journal of Psychiatry, 126, 884–888.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conners, C. K. (1970). Symptom patterns in hyperkinetic, neurotic and normal children. Child Development, 41, 667–682.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J. (1990). The family ecology of boys' peer relations in middle childhood. Child Development, 61, 874–892.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Andrews, D. W., & Crosby, L. (1995). Antisocial boys and their friends in early adolescence: Relationship characteristics, quality, and interactional process. Child Development, 66,139–151.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Capaldi, D., Spracklen, K. M., & Li, F. (1995). Peer ecology of male adolescent drug use. Development and Psychopathology, 7, 803–824.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., & Loeber, R. (1985). Adolescent marijuana and alcohol use: The role of parents and peers revisited. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 11, 11–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Patterson, G. R., & Griesler, P. C. (1994). Peer adaptation in the development of antisocial behavior: A confluence model. In L. R. Huesmann (Ed.), Aggressive behavior: Current perspectives (pp. 61–95). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Patterson, G. R., Stoolmiller, M., & Skinner, M. L. (1991). Family, school, and behavioral antecedents to early adolescent involvement with antisocial peers. Developmental Psychology, 27, 172–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., Spracklen, K. M., Andrews, D. W., & Patterson, G. R. (1996). Deviancy training in male adolescent friendships. Behavior Therapy, 27, 373–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodge, K. A. (1983). Behavioral antecedents: A peer social status. Child Development, 54, 1386–1399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodge, K. A., Coie, J. D., & Brakke, N. P. (1982). Behavior patterns of socially rejected and neglected preadolescents: The roles of social approach and aggression. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 10, 389–410.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duck, S., & Gilmour, R. (Eds.). (1981). Personal relationships 1: Studying personal relationships. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, D. S., Huizinga, D., & Ageton, S. S. (1985), Explaining delinquency and drug use. Beverley Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M. (1997). Annotation: Structural equation models in developmental research. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 877–887.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., & Horwood, L. J. (1996). The role of adolescent peer affiliations in the continuity between childhood behavioral adjustment and juvenile offending. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 24, 205–221.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., & Horwood, L. J. (1997). Early onset cannabis use and psychosocial adjustment in young adults. Addiction, 92, 279–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., & Horwood, L. J. (1998). Early conduct problems and later life opportunities. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 39, 1097–1108.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Lloyd, M. (1991). Confirmatory factor models of attention deficit and conduct disorder. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 32, 257–274.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Lynskey, M. T. (1997). Attentional difficulties in middle childhood and psychosocial outcomes in young adulthood. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 633–644.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., Shannon, F. T., & Lawton, J. M. (1989). The Christchurch Child Development Study: A review of epidemiological findings. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 5, 278–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giordano, P. C., & Cernkovich, S. A. (1997). Gender and antisocial behavior. In D. M. Stoff, J. Breiling, & J. D. Maser (Eds.), Handbook of antisocial behavior (pp. 496–510). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwood, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (in press). A longitudinal study of maternal labour force participation and child academic achievement. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

  • Joreskog, K. G., & Sorbom, D. (1993). Lisrel 8 user's reference guide. Chicago: Scientific Software International, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, D. B. (1973). Adolescent marijuana use: Role of parents and peers. Science, 181, 1067–1070.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, D. B. (1978). Homophily, selection and socialization in adolescent friendships. American Journal of Sociology, 84, 427–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, D. B., Davies, M., & Baydar, N. (1990). The creation of interpersonal contexts: Homophily in dyadic relationships in adolescence and young adulthood. In L. Robins & M. Rutter (Eds.), Straight and devious pathways from childhood to adulthood (pp. 221–241). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keenan, K., & Shaw, D. (1997). Developmental and social influences on young girls' early problem behavior. Psychological Bulletin, 121, 95–113.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ladd, G. W., Price, J. M., & Hart, C. H. (1990). Preschooler's behavioral orientations and patterns of peer contact: Predictive of peer status? In S. R. Asher & J. D. Coie (Eds.), Peer rejection in childhood (pp. 90–115). New York: Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Loeber, R., & Hay, D. (1997). Key issues in the development of aggression and violence from childhood to early adulthood. Annual Review of Psychology, 48, 371–410.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moffitt, T. E. (1993). Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy. Psychological Review, 100, 674–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neimeyer, R. A., & Mitchell, K. A. (1988). Similarity and attraction: A longitudinal study. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 4,131–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, J. G., & Asher, S. R. (1987). Peer relations and later personal adjustment: Are low-accepted children at risk. Psychological Bulletin, 102, 357–389.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R., Reid, J. B., & Dishion, T. J. (1992). A social learning approach: IV Antisocial boys. Eugene, OR: Castalia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quay, H. C., & Peterson, D. R. (1987). Manual for the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist. Miami, FL: Authors.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinton, D., Pickles, A., Maughan, B., & Rutter, M. (1993). Partners, peers and pathways: Assortative pairing and continuities in conduct disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 763–783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Tizard, J., & Whitmore, K. (1970). Education, health and behaviour. London: Longmans.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverthorn, P., & Frick, P. J. (1999).Developmental pathways to antisocial behavior: The delayed-onset pathway in girls. Development and Psychopathology, 11, 101–126.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, R. L., Whitbeck, L. B., Conger, R. D., & Conger, K. J. (1991). Parenting factors, social skills, and value commitments as precursors to school failure, involvement with deviant peers, and delinquent behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 20, 645–664.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, J., Dishion, T. J., & Patterson, G. R. (1986). Determinants and consequences of associating with deviant peers. Journal of Early Adolescence, 6, 229–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoolmiller, M. (1994). Antisocial behavior, delinquent peer association, and unsupervised wandering for boys: Growth and change from childhood to early adolescence. Mullivariate Behavioral Research, 29, 63–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitaro, F., Tremblay, R. E., Kerr, M., Pagani, L., & Bukowski, W. M. (1997). Disruptiveness, friends' characteristics, and delinquency in early adolescence: A test of two competing models of development. Child Development, 68, 676–689.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (1999a). Childhood peer relationship problems and psychosocial adjustment in late adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 27, 85–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (1999b). Early conduct problems and later risk of teenage pregnancy in girls. Development and Psychopathology, 11, 127–141.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zoccolillo, M. (1993). Gender and the development of conduct disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 65–78.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine, Christchurch, New Zealand

    David M. Fergusson, Lianne J. Woodward & L. John Horwood

Authors
  1. David M. Fergusson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lianne J. Woodward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. John Horwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David M. Fergusson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fergusson, D.M., Woodward, L.J. & Horwood, L.J. Childhood Peer Relationship Problems and Young People's Involvement with Deviant Peers in Adolescence. J Abnorm Child Psychol 27, 357–369 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021923917494

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021923917494

Search

Navigation