EARLY PEER REJECTION AND AGGRESSION - LONGITUDINAL RELATIONS WITH ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR

The purpose of the present study was to examine the longitudinal relat ions between peer nominations for aggression and rejection in first gr ade, and aggressive behavior psychological-well being, and academic ac hievement in early adolescence. We found that peer nominations of aggr ession as early as the first grade are predictive of multiple indicato rs of aggressive behavior in early adolescence,, particularly for boys . Early peer rejection also appears to make a unique contribution to a dolescent aggressive behavior and psychological wellbeing in the form of depressive symptoms. For girls, peer rejection also appears to be l inked to poorer academic achievement. The present findings support the need for early interventions with aggressive and rejected children. F uture research is needed to further delineate the processes by which e arly peer rejection and aggression are linked to later outcomes.