The Journal of Early Adolescence RSS feed -- OnlineFirst Articles

Social Aggression and Social Position in Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence: Burning Bridges or Building Them?

Neal, J. W. — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:57:51 PST

Because the mechanism of harm used in social aggression generally involves the manipulation of peer relationships, it is important to consider its social correlates. The current article uses social dominance theory as a frame to review developmental research on social aggression perpetration and three indicators of social position: sociometric status, perceived popularity, and social network position. Consistent with social dominance theory, social aggression is positively associated with indicators of social position that reflect influence in the peer hierarchy (i.e., perceived popularity and social network position). However, these behaviors are also negatively associated with indicators of social position that reflect likeability (i.e., sociometric status), suggesting that they are not without social trade-offs. Thus, depending on how social position is operationalized, social aggression can be associated with building or burning bridges to peers. Potential moderators and implications for intervention within school-based contexts are discussed.

When Might Peer Aggression, Victimization, and Conflict Have Its Largest Impact? Microcontextual Considerations

Nishina, A., Bellmore, A. — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:57:51 PST

Peer aggression, victimization, and conflict are common occurrences during early adolescence. In the collection of articles in this special issue, several themes emerged, including the use of social psychological theory, individual difference variables, and social context. This article briefly reviews these articles and presents original data that examine microcontextual characteristics (i.e., context of specific events) of sixth and ninth graders’ peer victimization. Students completed daily reports on 5 school days across 2 weeks. Adolescents’ experiences were mostly public (i.e., witnessed by another individual) and perpetrated by a single student from the same grade. Adolescents were unlikely to receive help from others (less than half the time when a witness was present). Ninth-grade data suggest that friends are the most likely witnesses to help the target. Strangers to the target never intervened or tried to help. These findings are discussed in light of implications for prevention and intervention.

Early Adolescents' Participation in Bullying: Is ToM Involved?

Caravita, S. C. S., Blasio, P. D., Salmivalli, C. — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:31:48 PDT

The present study investigated the role of theory of mind (ToM) skills in three forms of involvement in bullying: ringleader bullying, defending the victim(s), and victimization. Individual (affective empathy) and interpersonal variables (social preference and perceived popularity) were assumed to moderate the associations between ToM and the ways of being involved in bullying. Moderation effects by gender were also explored. Participants were 211 primary school pupils (average age = 10 years and 2 months, SD = 6 months), who took part in a ToM interview and filled in self- and peer-report questionnaires on empathy, social status, and involvement in bullying. ToM skills were positively linked to defending, and among boys this association was further strengthened by social preference. Practical implications include the need to focus on both peer relationships (i.e., status) and emotional characteristics (i.e., empathy) when trying to motivate youth with good cognitive skills to actively defend their victimized classmates.

Religious Group Relations Among Christian, Muslim and Nonreligious Early Adolescents in the Netherlands

Verkuyten, M., Thijs, J. — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:52:21 PDT

This study conducted among Christian, Muslim, and nonreligious early adolescents living in the Netherlands used intergroup theory for examining religious group evaluations. There was evidence for a religious group divide with a third of the Christian and nonreligious participants explicitly indicating negative feelings toward Muslims, and Muslim children having negative feelings toward Christians, nonbelievers, and Jews. Furthermore, the Muslim early adolescents had high religious in-group identification and higher identification was associated with more negative feelings toward nonbelievers and Jews. In addition, the results show that increased opportunities in school for contact between early adolescents from different religious and nonreligious groups contributes to more positive group relations. It is argued that the pattern of results is in agreement with an intergroup perspective in which the role of the broader social context and the concrete situation is taken into account.

Autonomy in After-School Activity Choice Among Preadolescents From Taiwan and the United States

Bidjerano, T., Newman, J. — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:52:21 PDT

The study examined boys’ and girls’ autonomy of choice of activities in the after-school hours with samples of children from two different countries. Preadolescent children from Taiwan (n = 289) and the United States (n = 195) completed a questionnaire on their usual after-school activities indicating who determines the choice of any particular activity and the extent to which the activity engendered positive affect. The two samples of children differed significantly with respect to the proportion of self-chosen time spent in particular activities (educational activities, organized activities, media use, and personal care and household chores) and overall. Patterns for the two genders were largely consistent across the two samples. Girls reported somewhat less choice in activities overall, and hanging out with peers specifically, whereas boys disclosed less choice in academic activities. However, it was found that for both samples and genders, proportion of autonomy in activities was positively related to reported enjoyment and inversely related to anxiety.

Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disturbances in Early Adolescence: A Structural Modeling Investigation Examining Negative Affect and Peer Factors

Hutchinson, D. M., Rapee, R. M., Taylor, A. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:54:04 PDT

This study tested five proposed models of the relationship of negative affect and peer factors in early adolescent body dissatisfaction, dieting, and bulimic behaviors. A large community sample of girls in early adolescence was assessed via questionnaire (X ^—age = 12.3 years). Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that negative affect mediated the relationship between body dissatisfaction and bulimic behaviors. Body dissatisfaction also contributed independently to the concurrent prediction of bulimic behaviors. The proposed pathways from dieting to negative affect and dieting to bulimic behaviors were not supported. However, perceived peer influence, perceived weight-related teasing, and the self-reported eating behaviors of friendship clique members all contributed significantly to the concurrent prediction of individual eating pathology. These findings highlight the importance of negative affect and both perceived and actual peer attitudes and behaviors in early adolescent eating pathology.

Youth Development in After-School Leisure Activities

Wilson, D. M., Gottfredson, D., Cross, A., Rorie, M., Connell, N. — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:54:48 PDT

Leisure activities that occur outside of the school hours may facilitate positive youth development. The experiences of youth in three categories of activities (basketball and football, other sports, and nonsports) are examined in this study. Based on prior research, it is hypothesized that students participating in basketball and football will experience more negative outcomes (i.e., problem behaviors, fewer positive peer influences, and lower academic achievement). Furthermore, specific experiences in these leisure activities are explored as potential mediators of the effects of participation. Results indicate that basketball and football participation is related to more negative experiences and outcomes, but these differences reflect selection of more at-risk youths into these activities. Implications of the findings are discussed.

The Difficulty of Maintaining Positive Intervention Effects: A Look at Disruptive Behavior, Deviant Peer Relations, and Social Skills During the Middle School Years

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:54:48 PDT

This paper examines the effects of the Fast Track preventive intervention on youths’ functioning in three domains: disruptive behavior problems, involvement with deviant peers, and social skills during the middle school years. Eight hundred ninety-one children had been randomly assigned by sets of schools within four sites to intervention (n = 445) or to control (n = 446) conditions. In contrast to prior findings of the effectiveness of the Fast Track intervention during the elementary school years, the current findings indicate that Fast Track had little overall impact on children’s functioning in these domains during this age period. There were positive intervention effects on only 2 of 17 outcomes examined. Although the intervention had positive impact on children’s hyperactive and self-reported delinquent behaviors in seventh grade, there were no intervention effects on other externalizing behavior problems or on social skills, and there was a negative intervention effect on children’s involvement with deviant peers during this age period.

Peer Victimization and Social Dominance as Intervening Variables of the Link Between Peer Liking and Relational Aggression

Adams, R. E., Bartlett, N. H., Bukowski, W. M. — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:54:32 PDT

The current study examined social dominance and peer victimization as possible intervening and moderating variables of the association between peer liking and relational aggression because previous findings suggest that social dominance and peer victimization are important for predicting the acceptableness and success of aggression. A total of 367 5th-and 6th-grade students from Quebec, Canada, completed peer ratings of their classmates on measures of peer liking, relational aggression, social dominance, and peer victimization. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that peer victimization worked as a mediator and a moderator, such that victimization explained the link between peer liking and relational aggression, and that this association was only significant at high levels of peer victimization. Alternatively, social dominance worked as a suppressor, with the link between peer liking and relational aggression becoming stronger once social dominance was controlled in the multiple regression. Social dominance did not moderate the same association.

A Case-Control Study of Emotion Regulation and School Refusal in Children and Adolescents

Hughes, E. K., Gullone, E., Dudley, A., Tonge, B. — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:54:32 PDT

The current study aimed to investigate emotion regulation (ER) strategy use in a sample of 21 clinic-referred children and adolescents (10-14 years old) presenting with school refusal, all of whom were diagnosed with at least one anxiety disorder. Being the first known study to examine ER and school refusal, hypotheses were guided by previous research on anxiety. It was hypothesized that the school refusal sample would report less healthy ER strategy use compared to an age- and sex-matched nonclinical sample (n = 21). As expected, the school refusal sample reported less use of cognitive reappraisal and greater use of expressive suppression to regulate their emotions than did the nonclinical sample. Although preliminary, the findings provide important information regarding the emotional functioning of children and adolescents presenting with school refusal. Future directions for research and implications for improved prevention and intervention programs are discussed.

Rural Community Characteristics, Economic Hardship, and Peer and Parental Influences in Early Adolescent Alcohol use

DeHaan, L., Boljevac, T., Schaefer, K. — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:54:31 PDT

The study explores how differences in rural community contexts relate to early adolescent alcohol use. Data were gathered from 1,424 adolescents in the sixth through eighth grades in 22 rural Northern Plains communities, as well as 790 adults, parents, teachers, and community leaders. Multilevel modeling analyses revealed that community supportiveness, as perceived by adolescents, but not adults, was associated with less lifetime and past month alcohol use, and for past month use, this relationship was stronger than perceived peer drinking or parental closeness. Perceived peer drinking and parental closeness were not associated with past month use. Adolescents experiencing family economic strain did not report greater lifetime or past month use, but living in a disadvantaged community was associated with greater past month use. Relatively affluent adolescents reported greater past month use when living in a poor community than did poorer adolescents, highlighting relationship complexity between economic disadvantage and alcohol use.

Hierarchical Linear Modeling Analysis of Change in Maternal Knowledge Over the Transition to Adolescence

Grundy, A. M., Gondoli, D. M., Blodgett Salafia, E. H. — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:19:49 PDT

Change in maternal knowledge over the transition to adolescence was assessed using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). In addition, maternal warmth, behavior control, and adolescent delinquency were considered as predictors of knowledge as well as time-varying covariates. Five years of self-report data were collected from 159 mothers and their early adolescents, beginning when the adolescents were in fourth grade. The results indicated that there was a significant mean decrease in maternal knowledge over time for both mother and adolescent reports. In addition, the data followed a quadratic trend, which was necessary to account for the slight increase in knowledge from T1 to T2. Maternal warmth, but not maternal behavior control, was a consistent predictor of the knowledge trajectory. Adolescent delinquency also predicted change in knowledge over time. Adolescent gender, mother’s T1 marital status, and change in mother’s marital status were not significant predictors. The study makes several important contributions, including examining knowledge across the transition to adolescence and considering a number of predictors of the knowledge trajectory.

Filial Piety and Psychosocial Adjustment in Hong Kong Chinese Early Adolescents

Leung, A. N.-M., Wong, S. S.-f., Wong, I. W.-y., McBride-Chang, C. — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:19:49 PDT

Is the Confucian concept of filial piety relevant for understanding contemporary Chinese children’s psychological well-being? This study of 231 Hong Kong Chinese fifth and sixth graders demonstrated that parental warmth and two facets of children’s filial piety belief were uniquely associated with life satisfaction, self-esteem, and social competence. Following the dual filial piety model, results distinguished children’s reciprocal and authoritarian filial piety beliefs. In particular, there were significant positive associations of reciprocal filial piety with life satisfaction and social competence and significant negative associations of authoritarian reciprocal filial piety with self-esteem and social competence, even statistically controlling for children’s ages, grade levels, and perceived parental warmth. Results suggested that children’s filial piety belief is a theoretically important aspect of Chinese values and beliefs that is uniquely associated with a variety of psychosocial adjustment variables and should be explored cross-culturally.

Associations of Peer Acceptance and Perceived Popularity With Bullying and Victimization in Early Adolescence

de Bruyn, E. H., Cillessen, A. H. N., Wissink, I. B. — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:58:11 PDT

This study examined the role of peer acceptance and perceived popularity in bullying and victimization in early adolescent peer groups. Peer acceptance is the degree to which adolescents are well liked by their peers; perceived popularity indicates visibility, dominance, and prestige. It was hypothesized that acceptance negatively predicts bullying, whereas popularity positively predicts bullying, and that both acceptance and popularity negatively predict victimization. Interactions between acceptance and popularity were tested as well. Participants were 1,207 13-to 14-year-old adolescents who completed sociometric assessments in their classrooms. Both bullying and victimization were predicted by the interaction between acceptance and perceived popularity. Bullying was positively associated with popularity, and this association was stronger for adolescents with lower levels of acceptance. Victimization was negatively associated with popularity, and this association was also stronger for adolescents with lower levels of acceptance. Linear and curvilinear main effects and interactions were found; some were further moderated by gender. The discussion focused on the role of individual status and group dynamic factors in the occurrence of aggression among early adolescents.

Neighborhood Disadvantage, Stressful Life Events, and Adjustment Among Mexican American Early Adolescents

Roosa, M. W., Burrell, G. L., Nair, R. L., Coxe, S., Tein, J.-Y., Knight, G. P. — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:44:06 PDT

This study examined a stress process model in which stressful life events and association with delinquent peers mediated the relationship of neighborhood disadvantage to Mexican American early adolescents’ mental health. The authors also proposed that child gender, child generation, and neighborhood informal social control would moderate the relationship of neighborhood disadvantage to children’s experiences of stressful life events. With data from 738 Mexican American early adolescents, results generally provided support for the theoretical model although the relationships of neighborhood disadvantage to stressful life events and adjustment were weaker than expected. Additional research is needed to corroborate these results and determine why neighborhood disadvantage may have different relationships to adjustment for Mexican American early adolescents than for others.

The Relationship Between Pubertal Timing and Delinquent Behavior in Maltreated Male and Female Adolescents

Negriff, S., Trickett, P. K. — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:02:11 PDT

This study examined the relationship between pubertal timing and delinquent behavior across two time points in a sample of 303 maltreated and 151 comparison adolescents aged between 9 and 13 years at enrollment. The first aim was to examine the relationship between pubertal timing and delinquency for the total sample and then to test for gender differences using multiple group models. The second aim was to examine the interaction effect of pubertal timing and maltreatment on delinquency as well as gender differences for this interaction effect. Results showed that earlier pubertal timing was related to higher delinquency and this relationship was not significantly different for males and females. Maltreatment did not moderate the relationship between pubertal timing and delinquency for the total sample; however, there was evidence of a three-way interaction. These findings highlighted the need to examine contextual factors that may affect the amplification and direction of these relationships.

The Mexican American Cultural Values Scale for Adolescents and Adults

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:44:35 PDT

This research evaluates the properties of a measure of culturally linked values of Mexican Americans in early adolescence and adulthood. The article discusses the items derived from qualitative data provided by focus groups in which Mexican Americans’ (adolescents, mothers, and fathers) perceptions of key values were discussed. The focus groups and a preliminary item refinement result in the 50-item Mexican American Cultural Values Scale (MACVS; identical for adolescents and adults) that includes 9 subscales. Analyses of data from two large previously published studies sampling Mexican American adolescents, mothers, and fathers provide evidence of the expected two correlated higher order factor structures, reliability, and construct validity of the subscales of the MACVS as indicators of values that are frequently associated with Mexican/Mexican American culture. The utility of this measure for use in longitudinal research and in resolving some important theoretical questions regarding dual cultural adaptation is discussed.

Romantic and Sexual Behavior in Young Adolescents: Repeated Surveys in a Population-Based Cohort

Waylen, A. E., Ness, A., McGovern, P., Wolke, D., Low, N. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:44:34 PDT

Adverse outcomes of teenage sexual activity are common in the United Kingdom. The authors used a computer-assisted interview to ask young adolescents aged 11 to 12 years (N = 6,856) and 12 to 13 years (N = 6,801) who were part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children about romantic and intimate behaviors. A total of 24% of 11- to 12-year-olds, and 41% of 12- to 13-year-olds reported holding hands, and 17% and 32%, respectively, reported having been kissed on the mouth. A minority of 12- to 13-year-olds reported sexual behavior including intercourse. The majority of participants who reported intimate sexual behavior did not regret it. Boys reported all activities more than girls and were less likely to express regret. The findings suggest that the timing and content of sex education should take into account the frequency with which young people are experimenting with sexual behaviors.

Physical Dating Violence Norms and Behavior Among 6th-Grade Students From Four U.S. Sites

Simon, T. R., Miller, S., Gorman-Smith, D., Orpinas, P., Sullivan, T. — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:18:27 PDT

Relatively little is known about the prevalence of physical dating violence behaviors and perceived norms about dating violence among early adolescents. A sample of 5,404 sixth-grade students was recruited from four diverse U.S. sites. Over half of the respondents reported that girls hitting their boyfriends was acceptable under certain circumstances (e.g., if made mad or jealous) and more than one in four reported acceptance of boys hitting their girlfriends. Among those reporting that they had a recent boy/girlfriend, nearly one third of girls (31.5%) and more than one fourth of boys (26.4%) reported being physically aggressive toward this person (e.g., punching, slapping). These data support the need to address the problem of violence within students’ perceived dating relationships in sixth grade or earlier and suggest that preventive interventions should focus on changing norms that support violence between males and females.

Youth Assets and Delayed Coitarche Across Developmental Age Groups

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:18:27 PDT

Cross-sectional studies suggest that assets are associated with youth abstinence, but whether these relationships are constant across developmental age groups has not been shown. Data for this study were obtained from two independent datasets collected across a 2-year period using in-person, in-home interviews of youth (52% female; 44% Caucasian, 23% Hispanic, 23% African-American, 10% other) and their parents (N = 2163 youth/parent pairs). Eighty-eight percent of teens aged 12-14 and 58% of teens aged 15-17 reported no sexual intercourse. Individual logistic regression models for assets and abstinence found 5 youth assets with significant adjusted odds ratios for both age groups: Non-Parental Adult Role models; Family Communication; Use of Time (Religion); Responsible Choices; and Peer Role Models. Community Involvement was associated with abstinence for young teens only and Aspirations for the Future and Good Health Practices only for middle teens. These findings can inform policies and programs targeting youth sexual decision-making.

Maternal Knowledge and Maternal Behavior Control as Predictors of Preadolescent Behavioral Competence

Grundy, A. M., Gondoli, D. M., Blodgett Salafia, E. H. — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:00:33 PDT

The present article examined relationships between maternal knowledge, maternal behavior control, and preadolescent behavioral competence over time. Four years of self-report data were collected from 133 mothers and their preadolescents, beginning when the preadolescents were in 4th grade. Knowledge, behavior control, and behavioral competence were assessed at all 4 time points. The results for preadolescent-reported variables suggested that maternal knowledge and preadolescent behavioral competence were reciprocally related, but maternal behavior control and preadolescent behavioral competence were not significantly related. Mother-reported maternal knowledge and behavior control were generally not associated with mother-reported preadolescent behavioral competence. Thus, the present study identified a longitudinal, reciprocal association between knowledge and preadolescent behavioral competence, for preadolescent reports of these variables.

Why Try? Achievement Motivation and Perceived Academic Climate Among Latino Youth

Wilkins, N. J., Kuperminc, G. — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:19:21 PDT

Elliot and Mcgregor’s (2001) 2 x 2 model of achievement motivation (mastery approach, mastery-avoidance, performance-approach and performance-avoidance) was used among 143 Latino adolescents to examine how achievement motivation changes over time, and whether perception of academic climate influences eventual academic outcomes. A series of hierarchical regressions revealed that perception of a task-focused academic climate moderated the association between mastery-approach achievement motivation and teacher-rated academic outcomes. A Repeated Measures analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA) also revealed that eighth graders reported an increase in mastery-approach achievement motivation and task-focused academic climate as they transitioned to high school. Findings suggest 1) that perception of a task-performance focused academic climate plays an important role in Latino adolescents’ academic achievement, and 2) that Latino adolescents’ achievement motivation and perception of academic climate may be influenced by their transition to high school.

Epistemic Beliefs and Achievement Motivation in Early Adolescence

Ricco, R. B., Pierce, S. S., Medinilla, C. — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:44:32 PDT

This study seeks to establish the relevance of middle school students’ naïve beliefs about knowledge and learning in science to their achievement motivation in this domain. A predominantly Hispanic and lower-income sample of 459 middle school students (sixth through eighth grades) completed measures of epistemic beliefs along with several measures of motivation. Results indicated that a belief that scientific knowledge develops and that justification is necessary to valid knowledge in science were positively related to mastery goals, task value, and self-efficacy. Epistemic beliefs were also found to predict science grades over and above the contributions of motivational factors. Surprisingly, an uncritical acceptance of authority figures and a belief in scientific knowledge as certain were more typical of students who adopted motivational states (e.g., mastery goals) previously found to be supportive of learning. The latter findings may be unique to early adolescence within the ethnic and socioeconomic status parameters of the present sample.

Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Factors Associated With Autonomous Motivation in Adolescents' After-School Activities

Beiswenger, K. L., Grolnick, W. S. — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:12:34 PDT

This study explored interpersonal and intrapersonal factors associated with the level of autonomous motivation adolescents experience for their after-school activities. A total of 142 seventh-grade adolescents completed measures of peer relatedness, autonomy within friendships, mother and father autonomy support, perceived activity competence, autonomous motivation for their after-school activity, and subjective well-being. Autonomous motivation for after-school activity was associated with greater subjective wellbeing. Peer relatedness was positively related to adolescents’ intrinsic and identified motivation for their after-school activities and inversely related to their introjected motivation, whereas neither mother nor father autonomy support predicted autonomous motivation. Perceived activity competence was also positively associated with intrinsic and identified motivation for after-school activity. Furthermore, autonomy within friendships mediated the relation between peer relatedness and autonomous motivation for after-school activity. Results suggest that peer relationships and perceived competence may have important roles in fostering experiences of autonomy and well-being in adolescence.

Interplay of Network Position and Peer Substance Use in Early Adolescent Cigarette, Alcohol, and Marijuana Use

Kobus, K., Henry, D. B. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:36:19 PST

Network position (isolate, member, liaison), peer-group substance use, and their interaction were examined as predictors of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use in a sample of 163 urban sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Two measures of peer substance use were compared: one based on social network analysis (SNA), the other on perceptions of use. Results varied by substance. For cigarettes, network position and the interaction between position and peer-group use predicted use in the model using SNA to measure peer use. Liaisons were most likely to smoke, but isolates’ and members’ smoking was significantly associated with peer smoking. For alcohol, perceptions of peer-group alcohol use predicted individual use. For marijuana, peer-group use and the interaction between position and peer use predicted use, regardless of measure. Liaisons’ marijuana use was significantly associated with peer use. The importance of SNA for understanding peer factors in adolescent substance use is discussed.

Cultural Identity and Peer Influence as Predictors of Substance Use Among Culturally Diverse Australian Adolescents

Gazis, N., Connor, J., Ho, R. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:36:20 PST

This study investigated cultural identity and peer influence on tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use in a culturally diverse sample of Northern Australian adolescents. Middle school students (n = 274) completed the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) and measures of their own and perceived friends’ substance use. Higher scores on the full scale MEIM indicating stronger cultural identity were found to be independently protective of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous alcohol initiation. More friends using substances was associated with increased substance use risk for both cultural groups. A factor analysis of the MEIM identified a two-factor structure, consisting of Affirmation/Belonging and Participation/Exploration. Few significant associations were found between the MEIM factors and cultural group substance use. Interactions between the MEIM factors and friends’ substance use indicated the two factors acted in the same way and decreased Non-Indigenous alcohol initiation for up to four drinking friends but were associated with risk for Indigenous alcohol initiation with any number of drinking friends.

Global Self-Esteem, Appearance Satisfaction, and Self-Reported Dieting in Early Adolescence

Barker, E. T., Bornstein, M. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:36:20 PST

Global self-esteem, appearance satisfaction, and self-reported dieting are interrelated. This study examines the temporal ordering of global self-esteem and appearance satisfaction across the early adolescence transition, from age 10 to age 14, as well as the independent associations of self-esteem and appearance satisfaction on self-reported dieting at age 14. Participants were 130 firstborn European American adolescents (40% girls). Adolescents who were less satisfied with their appearance at age 10 reported declines in self-esteem from age 10 to age 14. Adolescents with lower global self-esteem at age 10 did not decline in appearance satisfaction. Girls, adolescents with higher body mass index scores at age 10, and adolescents who were less satisfied with their appearance at age 14 all reported more frequent dieting at age 14. Implications for etiological and intervention models of eating problems in adolescence are considered.