Peer‐relationship patterns and their association with types of child abuse and adolescent risk behaviors among youth at‐risk of maltreatment

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates underlying patterns of peer relationships using diverse concepts (i.e., peer dynamics, peer popularity, and deviant peer affiliation). It also examines whether the patterns of peer relationships differ by type of child abuse, as well as the association between peer relationships and adolescent risk behaviors. Methods: This study included a sample of 659 youth (328 boys, 331 girls) at-risk of maltreatment, primarily low-income and living in the U.S. Peer dynamics were assessed using five separate components (self-report). Peer popularity was measured using teacher's estimation of child's peer status. Deviant peer affiliation was assessed using a modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior and Monitoring the Future Survey. Each type of abuse was assessed at age 12 using a self-report method. Self-reported adolescent sexual risk behaviors and substance use were assessed at age 16. Results: Latent class analysis identified 4 distinct patterns: 1) Friendly, with prosocial peer groups (10.2%); 2) Socially ignored, with prosocial peer groups (55.2%); 3) Severely antisocial peer groups (6.8%); and 4) Moderately antisocial peer groups (27.8%). Among all types of child abuse, emotionally abused youth were more likely to be involved in severely antisocial peer groups. Additionally, youth in the severely antisocial peer groups were more likely to exhibit adolescent risk behaviors. Conclusions: These findings argue clearly for the need to gain a deeper understanding of the role played by peer relationships, and of the effect of emotional abuse on the likelihood of membership in severely antisocial peer groups.

Mothers Matter: Using Regression Tree Algorithms to Predict Adolescents’ Sharing of Drunk References on Social Media

“…The results also pointed towards the relevance of best friends' norms. Extending the findings of previous studies on the influence of norms on adolescent risk behavior [18,54,58], the current work suggests that the salience of best friends' norms is especially relevant in the context of social media-related risk behavior, that is, because it is interwoven with exposure to best friends' risk behavior online. Adolescents share risk behavior online to send each other signals and connect with their friends [7], leading to an overstatement of its actual frequency that further amplifies its negative effect [59].…”

Peer Status as a Potential Risk or Protective Factor: A Latent Profile Analysis on Peer Status and Its Association with Internalizing Symptoms in Adolescents with and without Parental Physical Abuse Experience

“…Studies show a strong link between parental abuse and internalizing symptoms [18,87,88] as well as an association between internalizing symptoms and poor peer status [35]. This indicates that parental abuse relates to dysregulated behavior in the peer context and therefore relates to position in the peer group.…”

“…This indicates that parental abuse relates to dysregulated behavior in the peer context and therefore relates to position in the peer group. Still, only few studies have examined peer status in conjunction with parental physical abuse and internalizing symptoms, e.g., [87,89]. Internalizing symptoms are mostly considered as outcomes of poor peer relationships, although there is a strong association of youth with abuse experiences and higher internalizations, e.g., [90].…”

Childhood psychopathology mediates associations between childhood adversities and multiple health risk behaviours in adolescence: analysis using the ALSPAC birth cohort

“…A recent study of youth at risk of maltreatment found that the majority associated with prosocial peer groups and were less likely to engage in risk behaviours. The youth who socialised with severely antisocial peer groups were more likely to engage in adolescent risk behaviours (Yoon, 2020). Interventions to support children who have experienced adversities to form positive relationships with prosocial peers therefore may be protective for future multiple risk behaviours.…”