Relations of overt and relational aggression with perceived popularity among children and early adolescents were examined in 2 studies (Ns = 607 and 1,049). Among older youths, positive concurrent relations found between overt aggression and perceived popularity became nonsignificant when relational aggression was controlled, whereas positive associations found between relational aggression and perceived popularity held when overt aggression was controlled. Aggression and perceived popularity were not positively related for the younger participants. The 2nd study also examined the temporal ordering of these relations over 6 months. For older girls, positive relations between relational aggression and perceived popularity were bidirectional. For older boys, relational aggression did not predict increased perceived popularity, but perceived popularity predicted increased relational aggression. Implications for intervention are discussed.

This research investigated an integrative model of race- and gender-related influences on adjustment during early adolescence using a sample of 350 Black and White youth. In the proposed model, prejudice/discrimination events, as well as race and gender daily hassles, contribute to a general stress context. The stress context, in turn, influences levels of emotional and behavioral problems in adjustment, with these associations mediated (in part) by intervening effects on self-esteem. Racial and gender identity similarly have positive effects on adjustment via their intermediary linkages with self-esteem. Structural equation modeling analyses provided support for all of these aspects of the model. Findings also revealed theoretically predicted differences in model parameters across race by gender subgroups. These include a direct effect of prejudice/discrimination events on emotional problems specific to Black youth and an effect of gender identity on self-esteem specific to girls. Black girls appeared to be most vulnerable to exhibiting significant adjustment difficulties as a result of the processes under investigation.

In this review, we explore social contagion as an understudied risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents and young adults, populations with a high prevalence of NSSI. We review empirical studies reporting data on prevalence and risk factors that, through social contagion, may influence the transmission of NSSI. Findings in this literature are consistent with social modeling/learning of NSSI increasing risk of initial engagement in NSSI among individuals with certain individual and/or psychiatric characteristics. Preliminary research suggests iatrogenic effects of social contagion of NSSI through primary prevention are not likely. Thus, social contagion factors may warrant considerable empirical attention. Intervention efforts may be enhanced, and social contagion reduced, by implementation of psychoeducation and awareness about NSSI in schools, colleges, and treatment programs.

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Influences of social support and self-esteem on adjustment in early adolescence were investigated in a 2-year longitudinal study (N ϭ 350). Multi-informant data (youth and parent) were used to assess both overall levels and balance in peer-versus adult-oriented sources for social support and self-esteem. Findings obtained using latent growth-curve modeling were consistent with self-esteem mediating effects of social support on both emotional and behavioral adjustment. Lack of balance in social support and self-esteem in the direction of stronger support and esteem from peer-oriented sources predicted greater levels and rates of growth in behavioral problems. Results indicate a need for process-oriented models of social support and self-esteem and sensitivity to patterning of sources for each resource relative to adaptive demands of early adolescence.

The aim of this study was to conduct the first meta-analysis comparing risk for NSSI between sexual minority and heterosexual persons. Eleven published and 4 unpublished studies were reviewed, describing associations between sexual orientation and NSSI in 7,147 sexual minority and 61,701 heterosexual participants. The overall weighted effect size for the relationship between sexual orientation and NSSI using a random-effects model was OR = 3.00 (95% CI = 2.46-3.66), indicating a medium-to-large effect. Sexual minority adolescents and bisexuals were found to be at particularly high-risk. These findings highlight the need to examine mechanisms linking sexual orientation and NSSI in future research. Building on these findings can add to understanding the associations between sexual orientation, NSSI, and suicidality, as well as prevention/intervention.

Aggression is associated with a host of behavioral, social, and emotional adjustment difficulties. However, some aggressive youth are perceived as "popular" by peers. Although these perceived popular aggressive youth appear relatively well adjusted, especially in the social domain, the emotional well-being of these youth is understudied. The current findings indicate that perceived popularity buffers adolescents who hurt others through relational aggression from internalizing symptoms. In contrast, perceived popularity did not buffer adolescents who engaged in overt verbal and physical aggression from internalizing symptoms. The results suggest that relationally aggressive perceived popular adolescents may be especially resistant to intervention if their aggression helps them manipulate their social worlds but does not contribute to internalizing symptoms. KeywordsPeer relations; Popularity; Relational Aggression; Overt Aggression; Internalizing For many years, developmentalists defined high peer status as being well liked (i.e., sociometrically popular). Sociometric popularity is related, almost exclusively, to indices of positive adjustment (e.g., behavioral styles, psychological well-being, academic success; Rubin, Bukowski, & Parker, 2006). More recently, youth who peers perceive as "popular" have received increased attention (Cillessen & Rose, 2005). Understanding perceived popular youth is complex because their behavior includes positive aspects (e.g., prosocial behavior; LaFontana & Cillessen, 2002) and aggression, especially in adolescence (e.g., Cillessen & Mayeaux, 2004). Notably, although aggression is generally related to maladjustment (Coie & Dodge, 1998), perceived popular aggressors seem relatively well adjusted. For example, they tend to be socially central and prominent, athletic, and involved in extracurricular activities (Farmer, Estell, Bishop, O'Neal, & Cairns, 2003;Rodkin, Farmer, Pearl, & Van Acker, 2000). However, the emotional well-being of perceived popular aggressors is understudied.Externalizing and internalizing symptoms tend to co-occur (Lilienfeld, 2003). This work primarily focuses on overt verbal and physical aggression, but relational aggression (e.g., excluding/ignoring, spreading rumors) also is linked with emotional problems (e.g., Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). Explanations for the co-occurrence include that some causal factors underlie both internalizing and externalizing symptoms and that one set of symptoms may (Lilienfeld, 2003). For example, aggression may lead to life events (e.g., social censure, parental punishment, school suspension), which increase risk for internalizing symptoms.The current research tests whether perceived popularity buffers aggressors from internalizing symptoms. Knowing whether perceived popular aggressors experience emotional problems is important. Research indicates that adolescents experiencing greater distress (e.g., feeling unhappy/depressed, worthless, under strain) are more likely to seek help, including professional help (Rickwood & ...

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