Work

Friendship selection and influence processes for popularity in early and mid‐adolescents

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: This study examined the effect of popularity levels on friendship selection and friends' influence on popularity levels in early and mid-adolescence. METHODS: = 13.1 years at Wave 1; 48% girls) belonging to 160 classrooms in two waves. Adolescents were asked about their friendships and the popularity of their classmates. RESULTS: Longitudinal social network analyses showed that adolescents preferred similarly popular peers as friends. High popular classmates were more attractive as friends, particularly in early adolescence. Popular adolescents were more selective in their friendship nominations and adolescents with popular friends became more popular over time. These two effects were only significant in mid-adolescents, although comparative analyses showed a similar tendency at both age groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of popularity levels in adolescents' friendship selection and suggests that popularity, at the individual and group level, plays a relevant role in social development. Implications adapted to the different selection and influence processes in early and mid-adolescence are discussed.

Source: Journal of Adolescence

DOI: 10.1002/jad.12004

Authors: Ana Bravo, Rosario Ortega‐Ruiz, René Veenstra, Maaike C. Engels, Eva M. Romera

Institutions: University of Córdoba, University of Groningen

Language: English

Topic: Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000

Funder: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación