Ethnic Differences in Associations Among Popularity, Likability, and Trajectories of Adolescents' Alcohol Use and Frequency. Issue 2 (8th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choukas‐Bradley, Sophia; Giletta, Matteo; Neblett, Enrique W.; Prinstein, Mitchell J.
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 86:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 519
• Page End: 535
• Publication Date: 2015-01-08
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12333
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : Two‐part latent growth models examined associations between two forms of peer status (popularity, likability) and adolescents' alcohol use trajectories throughout high school; ethnicity was examined as a moderator. Ninth‐grade low‐income adolescents ( N = 364; M age = 15.08; 52.5% Caucasian; 25.8% African American; 21.7% Latino) completed sociometric nominations of peer status and aggression at baseline, and reported their alcohol use every 6 months. After controlling for gender, aggression, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, popularity—but not likability—prospectively predicted alcohol use trajectories. However, these effects were moderated by ethnicity, suggesting popularity as a risk factor for alcohol use probability and frequency among Caucasian and Latino, but not African American adolescents. Results suggest that developmental correlates of peer status should be considered within cultural context.