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The Effects of Friendship Network Popularity on Depressive Symptoms During Early Adolescence: Moderation by Fear of Negative Evaluation and Gender

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Abstract

We integrated a social network analysis and developmental perspectives to examine the effects of friendship network popularity on depressive symptoms during early adolescence. We explored whether the association between social status processes (i.e., friendship network popularity) and depressive symptoms was moderated by socio-cognitive aspects of peer relations (i.e., a fear of negative evaluation by peers) and gender. This longitudinal study was conducted with a sample of 367 adolescents (48.5 % female; M age = 11.9 years; 9 % European American, 19 % African American, 7 % Native American, 60 % Latino(a), 5 % other) attending sixth and seventh grades at Time 1. Results indicated that, for males with high levels of fear of negative evaluation, friendship network popularity was associated negatively with increases in depressive symptoms. Conversely, for females with high levels of fear of negative evaluation, friendship network popularity was associated positively with increases in depressive symptoms. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by funds provided by the T. Denny Sanford School of Social Dynamics at Arizona State University as part of the Lives of Girls and Boys Research Enterprise (http://lives.clas.asu.edu/). The authors would like to thank the graduate and undergraduate students who contributed to this project and the students, teachers, principal, staff, and parents for their participation.

Author contributions

O.K. conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination; performed the statistical analysis and interpretation of the data, and led the writing of the manuscript; C.S. conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination; and helped to interpret the data and to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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  1. T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 873701, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3701, USA

    Olga Kornienko

  2. Counseling and Counseling Psychology, School of Letters and Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-0811, USA

    Carlos E. Santos

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  1. Olga Kornienko
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Correspondence to Olga Kornienko.

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Kornienko, O., Santos, C.E. The Effects of Friendship Network Popularity on Depressive Symptoms During Early Adolescence: Moderation by Fear of Negative Evaluation and Gender. J Youth Adolescence 43, 541–553 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-9979-4

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