Psychological Development and Education ›› 2014, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (3): 259-267.

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Peer Group Influence on Adolescents’ Problem Behavior：A Social Network Analysis

Hou Ke1, Zou Hong2, Liu Yan2, Jin Can-can3, Jiang Suo2,4   

  1. 1. Journal of Beijing Normal University, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875;
    2. Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875;
    3. Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083;
    4. Department of Psychology in School of Environment and Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035
  • Online:2014-05-15 Published:2014-05-15

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Abstract: Peer interactions and group experiences exert a profound influence on the adolescents' behaviors.Literature also suggests that adolescents' positions in social network are responsible for their problem behaviors. In this article, social network analysis was used to identify peer groups of 506 adolescents from 20 middle school classrooms, and to measure the adolescents' centrality (degree, reach, bonacich and betweenness centrality) in their classroom networks and status in their peer groups. Multilevel model analysis indicated that peer groups did socialize adolescents' problem behaviors, controlling for classroom-level problem behaviors and other factors. The results showed peer group core membership was negatively associated with individual-level problem behaviors, and betweenness centrality was negatively associated with adolescents' problem behaviorsand degree centrality was positively associated with adolescents' problem behaviors. Degree centrality and betweenness centrality significantly moderated the impact of peer group problem behaviors on adolescents' externalizing behaviors. Further analysis indicated that the peer group socialization effect was most potent for individuals in low betweenness centrality, however, the degree centrality predicted adolescents' problem behaviors only in high problem behavior level groups.

Key words: Adolescent, Peer group influence, Problem behavior, Social network analysis, Centrality

CLC Number: 

  • B844.2
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