Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood: Homophily and peer contagion processes

Laura Hanish; Carol Martin; Richard Fabes; Stacie Leonard; Melissa Herzog

doi:10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6

Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood: Homophily and peer contagion processes

Laura Hanish, Carol Martin, Richard Fabes, Stacie Leonard, Melissa Herzog

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116 Scopus citations

Abstract

Guided by a transactional model, we examined the predictors and effects of exposure to externalizing peers in a low-risk sample of preschoolers and kindergarteners. On the basis of daily observations of peer interactions, we calculated measures of total exposure to externalizing peers and measures of exposure to same- and other-sex externalizing peers. Analyses of predictors of externalizing peer exposure supported a homophily hypothesis for girls. Tests of peer contagion effects varied by sex, and exposure to externalizing peers predicted multiple problem behaviors for girls but not for boys. Sex differences were a function of children's own sex, but not of peers' sex. The study provides evidence of externalizing peer exposure effects in a low-risk sample of young children, notably for girls.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	267-281
Number of pages	15
Journal	Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Volume	33
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6
State	Published - Jun 2005

Keywords

Early childhood
Externalizing behavior
Peer exposure
Sex differences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6

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title = "Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood: Homophily and peer contagion processes",

abstract = "Guided by a transactional model, we examined the predictors and effects of exposure to externalizing peers in a low-risk sample of preschoolers and kindergarteners. On the basis of daily observations of peer interactions, we calculated measures of total exposure to externalizing peers and measures of exposure to same- and other-sex externalizing peers. Analyses of predictors of externalizing peer exposure supported a homophily hypothesis for girls. Tests of peer contagion effects varied by sex, and exposure to externalizing peers predicted multiple problem behaviors for girls but not for boys. Sex differences were a function of children's own sex, but not of peers' sex. The study provides evidence of externalizing peer exposure effects in a low-risk sample of young children, notably for girls.",

keywords = "Early childhood, Externalizing behavior, Peer exposure, Sex differences",

author = "Laura Hanish and Carol Martin and Richard Fabes and Stacie Leonard and Melissa Herzog",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (1 R01 HD45816-01A1) and a Multi-Investigator Award from Arizona State University, awarded to the first three authors, and by the Cowden Endowment fund. We would like to thank Debra Madden-Derdich, Mary Anders, Lisa Dinella, Patti Ryan, and Shana Schmidt for their participation in this project. Finally, special thanks go to Bob Weigand and the children, teachers, and parents for their participation.",

year = "2005",

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doi = "10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Hanish, Laura

AU - Martin, Carol

AU - Fabes, Richard

AU - Leonard, Stacie

AU - Herzog, Melissa

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (1 R01 HD45816-01A1) and a Multi-Investigator Award from Arizona State University, awarded to the first three authors, and by the Cowden Endowment fund. We would like to thank Debra Madden-Derdich, Mary Anders, Lisa Dinella, Patti Ryan, and Shana Schmidt for their participation in this project. Finally, special thanks go to Bob Weigand and the children, teachers, and parents for their participation.

PY - 2005/6

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N2 - Guided by a transactional model, we examined the predictors and effects of exposure to externalizing peers in a low-risk sample of preschoolers and kindergarteners. On the basis of daily observations of peer interactions, we calculated measures of total exposure to externalizing peers and measures of exposure to same- and other-sex externalizing peers. Analyses of predictors of externalizing peer exposure supported a homophily hypothesis for girls. Tests of peer contagion effects varied by sex, and exposure to externalizing peers predicted multiple problem behaviors for girls but not for boys. Sex differences were a function of children's own sex, but not of peers' sex. The study provides evidence of externalizing peer exposure effects in a low-risk sample of young children, notably for girls.

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Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood: Homophily and peer contagion processes

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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