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Prospective Associations between Popularity, Victimization, and Aggression in Early Adolescence
Sarah T Malamut1, Tana Luo2, David Schwartz3
1INVEST Research Flagship, Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. sarah.malamut@utu.fi.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence
|May 14, 2020
Summary
Popularity influences adolescent victimization, with both high and low popularity linked to reputational harm. This study reveals how peer victimization can impact aggression, offering insights into cycles of youth aggression and bullying intervention effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Peer victimization is a significant concern in adolescence.
- The intersection of high social status (popularity) and victimization remains understudied.
- Existing research is predominantly cross-sectional, limiting understanding of temporal dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally examine the prospective associations between adolescent popularity and indirect victimization (reputational victimization and exclusion).
- To investigate whether high-status youth's victimization predicts elevated aggression, using self- and peer- reports.
- To contribute to a nuanced understanding of victimization and aggression dynamics in adolescent peer groups.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design following 370 adolescents for one year.
- Assessment of popularity, indirect victimization (reputational victimization, exclusion), and aggression.
- Utilized self- and peer- reports for victimization and aggression measures.
Main Results:
- Both high and low popularity were prospectively associated with reputational victimization.
- Popularity moderated the relationship between self-reported indirect victimization and aggression.
- No moderation effect was found for peer-reported indirect victimization on aggression.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent popularity is complexly linked to indirect victimization, particularly reputational harm.
- Victimization experiences, moderated by popularity, may contribute to aggression cycles in youth.
- Findings suggest potential limitations for standard bullying interventions among popular adolescents.
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