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Associations between Prosocial and Problem Behavior from Early to Late Adolescence
Laura M Padilla-Walker1, Madison K Memmott-Elison2, Sarah M Coyne2
1Brigham Young University, 2071 JFSB, Provo, UT, 84602, USA. laura_walker@byu.edu.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|September 4, 2017
Summary
Adolescent prosocial behavior and problem behaviors like aggression and delinquency are linked over time. This study found these behaviors influence each other, with distinct patterns emerging for different individuals.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Behavior Studies
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Existing research indicates a negative association between prosocial behavior and problem behavior in adolescence.
- However, longitudinal associations, bidirectional effects, and individual co-occurrence patterns remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally examine the complex associations between prosocial behavior and problem behaviors (aggression, delinquency) in adolescents.
- To investigate potential bidirectional relationships and identify distinct developmental trajectories of co-occurring behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 500 adolescents from age 12 to 18.
- Employed growth curve modeling, longitudinal panel models, and mixture modeling to analyze behavioral associations.
Main Results:
- Growth curve analyses revealed negative associations between changes in prosocial behavior and changes in aggression and delinquency.
- Longitudinal panel models indicated bidirectional negative associations between prosocial behavior and aggression, and a negative association with delinquency.
- Mixture modeling identified heterogeneity in the co-occurrence patterns of prosocial and problem behaviors across adolescence.
Conclusions:
- Prosocial behavior and problem behaviors exhibit complex, dynamic, and bidirectional interrelations throughout adolescence.
- Understanding these nuanced associations is crucial for developing targeted interventions for adolescent behavioral development.
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