Bidirectional Associations of Prosocial Behavior with Peer Acceptance and Rejection in Adolescence.

As most studies on the link between peer status and prosocial behavior are cross-sectional, conducted with children, and operationalize status as the difference between acceptance and rejection, it remains unclear whether peer acceptance and rejection are consequences or prerequisites of prosocial behavior in adolescence. To fill this gap, this study examines the bidirectional associations of prosocial behavior with peer acceptance and peer rejection with data collected at 3 time points, 6 months apart, in a sample of 660 early Chilean adolescents (M = 12.94, SD = 0.62; 55.1% boys). Cross-lagged panel analyses showed that prosocial behavior positively predicted future peer acceptance, whereas peer acceptance had no significant effect on future prosocial behavior. The association between rejection and prosocial behavior was negative and bidirectional between Time 1 and Time 2. When a new academic year began, between Time 2 and Time 3, prosocial behavior negatively predicted rejection, whereas rejection in the previous grade level was positively associated with prosocial behavior at the beginning of the next grade. Multi-group panel analyses did not detect significant differences between boys and girls in the cross-lagged associations of prosociality with peer acceptance and peer rejection. The results suggest that acting prosocially can make adolescents better liked by their peers and highlight the possible importance of the transition to a new academic year for the prosocial behavior of previously rejected students. Implications for future research on peer relations are discussed.

Effects of Gender and Body Weight on Children's Peer Choice During Physical Activities.

The present study investigated possible effects of gender and body weight on children's peer choices during physical activities. Twenty-four school-aged children (12 overweight and 12 non-overweight) were observed during 2 play sessions: the 1st session consisted of 2 tests that required agility (A) and 1 that required strength (S) in an A-S-A design; the 2nd session consisted of 2 strength tests and 1 agility in an S-A-S design. Before each session, 2 participants were asked to choose members for their teams. Results suggest that peer gender is a stronger predictor of children's playmate choices than their body weight. More specifically, children preferred to choose a peer of the same gender who was overweight rather than a peer of the opposite gender who was not overweight. However, when there was a choice between an overweight peer and a non-overweight peer of the same gender, the non-overweight child was favored.

El cuestionario sociométrico Guess Who 4 como screening de la competencia social en educación primaria / Guess Who 4 Sociometric Questionnaire as Screening of Social Competence in Elementary Education

Resumen Este trabajo presenta la adaptación y validación española del Cuestionario Sociométrico Guess Who 4 (GW4) (Mavroveli, Petrides, Sangareau, & Furnham, 2009), que evalúa la reputación social en el contexto del grupo-aula, fundamentado en la técnica de evaluación por pares de Coie & Dodge (1988). La muestra se compone de 668 alumnos de tercero a sexto de Educación Primaria, y edades comprendidas entre 7-13 años (M= 9.6, DT= 1.11). Se analizan las correlaciones del GW4 con problemas emocionales y de conducta infantil, y rendimiento académico, en función del sexo. Los resultados avalan la fiabilidad y validez criterial del instrumento para la evaluación breve de la competencia social, con fines de investigación o de aplicación en la práctica de la evaluación psicoeducativa y la orientación psicopedagógica.

Abstract This paper presents the Spanish adaptation and validation of the Guess Who 4 Sociometric Questionnaire (GW4) (Mavroveli, Petrides, Sangareau, and Furnham, 2009), which assesses the social reputation in the context of group-classroom, based on the peer assessment technique by Coie and Dodge (1988). The sample consists of 668 students from third to sixth of primary education, aged 7-13 years (M =9.6, SD=1.11). GW4 correlations with emotional and behavioral problems of child and academic performance are analyzed. The results support the reliability and criterion validity of the instrument as a brief assessment of social competence, for use in research or application to psychoeducational assessment and counseling.

Relaciones entre Aceptación Sociométrica Escolar e Inadaptación Socioemocional, Estrés Cotidiano y Afrontamiento / Relationships between School Peer Acceptance and Socioemotional Maladjustment, Daily Stress, and Coping

Este estudio analiza la asociación de la variable aceptación sociométrica con diversos índices de inadaptación socioemocional, estrés cotidiano y estilos de afrontamiento en escolares, atendiendo a diferencias de género y edad. La muestra se compone de 392 escolares de 9 a 12 años. Los resultados muestran correlaciones significativas negativas de la variable aceptación sociométrica con los índices de inadaptación socioemocional y el estrés cotidiano. Asimismo, se obtiene una correlación significativa positiva con el estilo de afrontamiento "en relación con los demás". Los resultados arrojan diferencias de género y edad, siendo la relación entre la aceptación sociométrica y las diversas variables medidas más fuerte en la submuestra de niñas y en los grupos de edad de 10 y 12 años. Finalmente, se expone la necesidad de utilizar los resultados obtenidos como punto de partida para el desarrollo de intervenciones psicopedagógicas con el objeto de prevenir el desarrollo de patrones de inadaptación emocional en la infancia.

This study examines the association of peer acceptance with different indexes of socio-emotional maladjustment, daily stress, and coping styles in school students, including gender and age differences. The sample consists of 392 schoolchildren aged from 9 to 12. Results show significant negative correlations of peer acceptance with emotional maladjustment indexes and daily stress. In addition, it shows a significant positive correlation with reference-toothers coping style. Results also indicate gender and age differences, specifically the relationships between peer acceptance and the different self-assessed measures, which are more significant among the girls' subgroup, and among the 10 and 12 year old subgroups. Finally, we emphasize the need to apply these results as a baseline for educational psychology interventions to prevent development of emotional maladjustment in childhood.

Violencia escolar en adolescentes rechazados y aceptados: un análisis de sus relaciones con variables familiares y escolares / School - based violence on peer - rejected and peer-accepted adolecents: an analysis of its relationships with family and school variable / Violência escolar em adolescentes rejeitados e aceitos: uma análise de suas relações com variáveis e escolares

La investigación sobre la violencia escolar y la aceptación (o rechazo) de los adolescentes por su grupo de iguales resulta, todavía poco concluyente. No obstante, se ha observado que los adolescentes violentos y los rechazados informan de problemas en sus relaciones familiares y en la escuela. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la relación entre variables familiares, variables escolares y la violencia escolar, en adolescentes rechazados y populares. Participaron 1068 adolescentes de entre 11 y 16 años. Se han calculado modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. Los resultados muestran que las variables familiares se relacionan de modo diferente con la violencia escolar en rechazados y aceptados: la autoestima familiar ejerce un efecto directo en la violencia escolar en el grupo de rechazados y un efecto indirecto en adolescentes aceptados, mientras que el apoyo del padre se relaciona con la autoestima escolar en el grupo de aceptados pero no en el de rechazados.

Research on school violence and peer acceptance (or rejection) is still inconclusive. However, it has been observed violent and rejected adolescents report problems in their family relationships and school. The present study aims to analyse the relationship between particular family variables, school variables, and school based violence, on the basis of rejected and popular adolescents. Participants were 1068 aged from 11 to 16 years old. Statistical analyses were carried out using structural equation modelling. Results showed family variables are differently related to school-based violence: family self-esteem exerts a direct effect on school-based violence among rejected, and an indirect effect on accepted adolescents, whereas father support are related to school self-esteem among accepted.

A pesquisa sobre violência escolar e a aceitação (ou rejeição) dos adolescentes pelo seu grupo de pares ainda é pouco conclusiva. Entretanto, tem sido observado que os adolescentes violentos e os rejeitados apresentam problemas nas relações familiares e na escola. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar a relação entre variáveis familiares, variáveis escolares e a violência escolar em adolescentes rejeitados e adolescentes populares. Participaram 1068 adolescentes entre 11 e 16 anos. Foram calculados modelos de equações estruturais. Os resultados mostram que as variáveis familiares se relacionam de modo diferente com a violência escolar em adolescentes rejeitados e aceitos: a autoestima familiar exerce um efeito direto na violência escolar no grupo de rejeitados e um efeito indireto em adolescentes aceitos, entretanto, o apoio do pais se relaciona com a autoestima escolar no grupo de aceitos, porém, não no grupo de rejeitados.