Peer Rejection and Social Information-processing Factors in the Development of Aggressive Behavior Problems in Children

Overview

Journal Child Dev

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2003 Apr 23

PMID 12705561

Citations 165

Authors

Kenneth A Dodge

Jennifer E Lansford

Virginia Salzer Burks

John E Bates

Gregory S Pettit

Reid Fontaine

Joseph M Price

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The relation between social rejection and growth in antisocial behavior was investigated. In Study 1,259 boys and girls (34% African American) were followed from Grades 1 to 3 (ages 6-8 years) to Grades 5 to 7 (ages 10-12 years). Early peer rejection predicted growth in aggression. In Study 2,585 boys and girls (16% African American) were followed from kindergarten to Grade 3 (ages 5-8 years), and findings were replicated. Furthermore, early aggression moderated the effect of rejection, such that rejection exacerbated antisocial development only among children initially disposed toward aggression. In Study 3, social information-processing patterns measured in Study 1 were found to mediate partially the effect of early rejection on later aggression. In Study 4, processing patterns measured in Study 2 replicated the mediation effect. Findings are integrated into a recursive model of antisocial development.

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