How to Attain a Popularity Goal? Examining the Mediation Effects of Popularity Determinants and Behaviors

Overview

Journal J Youth Adolesc

Specialties Pediatrics
Psychology
Social Sciences

Date 2018 Jun 27

PMID 29942986

Citations 6

Authors

Yan Li

Yinyan Hu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Popularity has been examined extensively in recent years, particularly regarding its behavioral correlates. However, much less is known about the social cognitive processes related to popularity and the strategies to attain popularity. This study examined the longitudinal association between popularity goal and popularity status by focusing on the mediation effects of perceived contributing behaviors for popularity (i.e., popularity determinants) and actual behaviors in a sample of 5th and 6th graders (N = 382; 47% girls) in China. The results revealed that participants' popularity goal indirectly related to aggression, academic performance, and prosocial behaviors through the mediation of the corresponding popularity determinant perceptions. Furthermore, participants' popularity goal longitudinally predicted their later popularity status changes through the mediation of perceptions of prosocial behaviors as a popularity determinant and prosocial behaviors. The findings of this study were discussed in relationship to their cultural context.

Citing Articles

Giving It a Shot with a Different Approach: Prosocial Strategies Moderate the Joint Effects of Agentic and Communal Goals on Bullying.

Wang Y, Zhang Q, Dong Z, Zhang X Behav Sci (Basel). 2024; 14(7).

PMID: 39062406 PMC: 11273542. DOI: 10.3390/bs14070583.

High and low levels of adolescent peer status are associated longitudinally with socioevaluative concern.

Field N, Nick E, Massing-Schaffer M, Fox K, Nesi J, Prinstein M J Res Adolesc. 2023; 34(1):114-126.

PMID: 38012779 PMC: 10922244. DOI: 10.1111/jora.12904.

Li M, Li Y J Youth Adolesc. 2023; 52(7):1500-1511.

PMID: 36855011 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01756-z.

Behavior Variations and Their Implications for Popularity Promotions: From Elites to Mass on Weibo.

Shi B, Xu K, Zhao J Entropy (Basel). 2022; 24(5).

PMID: 35626549 PMC: 9141265. DOI: 10.3390/e24050664.

Bidirectional Associations between Popularity, Popularity Goal, and Aggression, Alcohol Use and Prosocial Behaviors in Adolescence: A 3-Year Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Malamut S, van den Berg Y, Lansu T, Cillessen A J Youth Adolesc. 2020; 50(2):298-313.

PMID: 32865706 PMC: 7875842. DOI: 10.1007/s10964-020-01308-9.

References

Chen X, Chang L, Liu H, He Y . Effects of the peer group on the development of social functioning and academic achievement: a longitudinal study in Chinese children. Child Dev. 2008; 79(2):235-51. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01123.x. View

Schwartz D, Gorman A, Nakamoto J, McKay T . Popularity, social acceptance, and aggression in adolescent peer groups: links with academic performance and school attendance. Dev Psychol. 2006; 42(6):1116-27. DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.42.6.1116. View

Xie H, Li Y, Boucher S, Hutchins B, Cairns B . What makes a girl (or a boy) popular (or unpopular)? African American children's perceptions and developmental differences. Dev Psychol. 2006; 42(4):599-612. DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.42.4.599. View

Chen X, French D . Children's social competence in cultural context. Annu Rev Psychol. 2007; 59:591-616. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.psych.59.103006.093606. View

Li Y, Wang M, Wang C, Shi J . Individualism, collectivism, and Chinese adolescents' aggression: intracultural variations. Aggress Behav. 2010; 36(3):187-94. DOI: 10.1002/ab.20341. View

Cillessen A, Mayeux L . From censure to reinforcement: developmental changes in the association between aggression and social status. Child Dev. 2004; 75(1):147-63. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00660.x. View

Cillessen A, Mayeux L, Ha T, de Bruyn E, LaFontana K . Aggressive effects of prioritizing popularity in early adolescence. Aggress Behav. 2013; 40(3):204-13. DOI: 10.1002/ab.21518. View

Crick N, Grotpeter J . Relational aggression, gender, and social-psychological adjustment. Child Dev. 1995; 66(3):710-22. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1995.tb00900.x. View

Tseng W, Banny A, Kawabata Y, Crick N, Gau S . A cross-lagged structural equation model of relational aggression, physical aggression, and peer status in a Chinese culture. Aggress Behav. 2013; 39(4):301-15. DOI: 10.1002/ab.21480. View

10.

Rose A, Swenson L, Waller E . Overt and relational aggression and perceived popularity: developmental differences in concurrent and prospective relations. Dev Psychol. 2004; 40(3):378-87. DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.40.3.378. View

11.

Dawes M, Xie H . The role of popularity goal in early adolescents' behaviors and popularity status. Dev Psychol. 2013; 50(2):489-97. DOI: 10.1037/a0032999. View

12.

Engels M, Colpin H, Van Leeuwen K, Bijttebier P, Van Den Noortgate W, Claes S . School engagement trajectories in adolescence: The role of peer likeability and popularity. J Sch Psychol. 2017; 64:61-75. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2017.04.006. View

13.

Ojanen T, Findley-Van Nostrand D . Social goals, aggression, peer preference, and popularity: longitudinal links during middle school. Dev Psychol. 2014; 50(8):2134-43. DOI: 10.1037/a0037137. View

14.

Li Y, Wright M . Adolescents' social status goals: relationships to social status insecurity, aggression, and prosocial behavior. J Youth Adolesc. 2013; 43(1):146-60. DOI: 10.1007/s10964-013-9939-z. View

15.

Meijs N, Cillessen A, Scholte R, Segers E, Spijkerman R . Social intelligence and academic achievement as predictors of adolescent popularity. J Youth Adolesc. 2010; 39(1):62-72. PMC: 2796964. DOI: 10.1007/s10964-008-9373-9. View

16.

LaFontana K, Cillessen A . Children's perceptions of popular and unpopular peers: a multimethod assessment. Dev Psychol. 2002; 38(5):635-47. DOI: 10.1037//0012-1649.38.5.635. View