Developmental profiles of peer social preference over the course of elementary school: Associations with trajectories of externalizing and internalizing behavior

Using a new longitudinal clustering technique, this study aimed to (a) empi rically identify groups of children with distinct longitudinal profiles of peer social preference during elementary school; (b) compare these groups r egarding their longitudinal pattern of classification into J. D. Cole, K. A . Dodge, and H. Coppotelli's (CDC; 1982) sociometric categories; and (c) co mpare these groups regarding their longitudinal trajectories of antisocial, hyperactive, and anxious behavior. Based on 299 children, 3 groups were id entified: a stable popular group, a stable average group, and an unpopular group whose social preference decreased over time. Each of the groups showe d considerable overlap over time with their closest corresponding CDC categ ory (popular, average, rejected). Growth curve analyses showed that externa lizing and internalizing behavior generally decreased over time, but overal l means and the rates of decrease differed in the 3 groups.