Abstract
The factors influencing popular adolescents to defend victims require further exploration, particularly concerning their traits and the desire for higher peer status. In this one-year longitudinal study, 2464 Chinese adolescents (48.50% girls, Mage = 13.40 years, SD = 0.61) were investigated to examine the relationship between peer-nominated popularity, manipulative traits, desired popularity, and defending behaviors. The results revealed that peer-nominated popularity had a positive predictive effect on Chinese adolescents’ defending behaviors. Furthermore, this longitudinal association was accentuated by desired popularity and manipulative traits in girls but was not in boys. Specifically, popular girls with high desired popularity demonstrated a higher likelihood of engaging in defending behaviors compared to other girls. These findings carry significant implications for understanding the influencing factors behind peer status and adolescents’ defending behaviors.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are full of gratitude to those adolescents who participated and to the research assistants who have contributed to the data collection.
Authors’ contributions
Y.Y. conceived of the study, participated in the design and coordination of the study, performed the statistical analyses, interpreted results, drafted and revised the manuscript; W.L. conceived of the study, participated in the design and coordination of the study, interpreted results, drafted and revised the manuscript; Y.Z. coordinated, conceived, and designed the study, interpreted results, and participated in drafting and revising the manuscript; C.W. participated in the design of the study, and helped in revising the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of this manuscript.
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This study is funded by General Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, Grant/Award Number: 21BSH104.
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Yang, Y., Liang, W., Zhang, Y. et al. The Longitudinal Effect of Peer-Nominated Popularity on Defending Behaviors in Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Role of Manipulative Traits, Desired Popularity, and Gender. J. Youth Adolescence 53, 581–594 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01927-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01927-y