DEVELOPMENTAL PATTERNS OF CHILDHOOD PEER RELATIONS AS PREDICTORS OF EXTERNALIZING BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Developmental patterns of childhood peer relations were examined in th e prediction of externalizing behavior problems in a 4-year multiple c ohort longitudinal study. The participants consisted of 880 third- (M = 9.3 years) through seventh- (M = 13.4 years) grade students. Approxi mately half of the participants were female, one third were Black, and one third were from low-income homes. Developmental patterns of six i ndices of peer relations (including group acceptance, group rejection, having a reciprocated best friend, social support from best friend, c onflict with best friend, and the aggressiveness of the best friend) w ere examined as predictors of aggression and delinquency using logisti c regression analyses. Results suggest that both group and dyadic peer relations problems are risk factors for aggression and delinquency. S upport was found for the cumulative risk model in the prediction of ex ternalizing outcomes from multiple social risk factors that were addit ively associated with each negative outcome.