Childhood peer relationship problems and psychosocial adjustment in late adolescence

Using prospective longitudinal data from the Christchurch Health and Develo pment Study, this paper examined the relationship between teacher reported peer relationship problems at age 9 and psychosocial adjustment in late ado lescence. Results showed that, by age 18, children with high rates of early peer relationship problems were at increased risk of externalizing behavio r problems such as criminal offending and substance abuse, but were not at increased risk of anxiety disorder or major depression. Subsequent analyses revealed that these associations were largely explained by the effects of child and family factors associated with both early peer relationship probl ems and later adjustment. The most influential variable in explaining assoc iations between peer relationship problems and later adjustment was the ext ent of children's early conduct problems. These results suggest that report ed associations between early peer problems and later adjustment are noncau sal, and appear to reflect underlying continuities in behavioral adjustment .