Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood: Homophily and peer contagion processes

Laura Hanish; Carol Martin; Richard Fabes; Stacie Leonard; Melissa Herzog

doi:10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6

Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood: Homophily and peer contagion processes

Laura Hanish, Carol Martin, Richard Fabes, Stacie Leonard, Melissa Herzog

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

111 Scopus citations

Abstract

Guided by a transactional model, we examined the predictors and effects of exposure to externalizing peers in a low-risk sample of preschoolers and kindergarteners. On the basis of daily observations of peer interactions, we calculated measures of total exposure to externalizing peers and measures of exposure to same- and other-sex externalizing peers. Analyses of predictors of externalizing peer exposure supported a homophily hypothesis for girls. Tests of peer contagion effects varied by sex, and exposure to externalizing peers predicted multiple problem behaviors for girls but not for boys. Sex differences were a function of children's own sex, but not of peers' sex. The study provides evidence of externalizing peer exposure effects in a low-risk sample of young children, notably for girls.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	267-281
Number of pages	15
Journal	Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Volume	33
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6
State	Published - Jun 2005

Keywords

Early childhood
Externalizing behavior
Peer exposure
Sex differences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

Access to Document

10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6

Cite this

@article{8d7adac26a4d4125a6045b16fbd4d5ba,

title = "Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood: Homophily and peer contagion processes",

abstract = "Guided by a transactional model, we examined the predictors and effects of exposure to externalizing peers in a low-risk sample of preschoolers and kindergarteners. On the basis of daily observations of peer interactions, we calculated measures of total exposure to externalizing peers and measures of exposure to same- and other-sex externalizing peers. Analyses of predictors of externalizing peer exposure supported a homophily hypothesis for girls. Tests of peer contagion effects varied by sex, and exposure to externalizing peers predicted multiple problem behaviors for girls but not for boys. Sex differences were a function of children's own sex, but not of peers' sex. The study provides evidence of externalizing peer exposure effects in a low-risk sample of young children, notably for girls.",

keywords = "Early childhood, Externalizing behavior, Peer exposure, Sex differences",

author = "Laura Hanish and Carol Martin and Richard Fabes and Stacie Leonard and Melissa Herzog",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (1 R01 HD45816-01A1) and a Multi-Investigator Award from Arizona State University, awarded to the first three authors, and by the Cowden Endowment fund. We would like to thank Debra Madden-Derdich, Mary Anders, Lisa Dinella, Patti Ryan, and Shana Schmidt for their participation in this project. Finally, special thanks go to Bob Weigand and the children, teachers, and parents for their participation.",

year = "2005",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "33",

pages = "267--281",

journal = "Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology",

issn = "0091-0627",

publisher = "Springer New York",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood

T2 - Homophily and peer contagion processes

AU - Hanish, Laura

AU - Martin, Carol

AU - Fabes, Richard

AU - Leonard, Stacie

AU - Herzog, Melissa

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (1 R01 HD45816-01A1) and a Multi-Investigator Award from Arizona State University, awarded to the first three authors, and by the Cowden Endowment fund. We would like to thank Debra Madden-Derdich, Mary Anders, Lisa Dinella, Patti Ryan, and Shana Schmidt for their participation in this project. Finally, special thanks go to Bob Weigand and the children, teachers, and parents for their participation.

PY - 2005/6

Y1 - 2005/6

N2 - Guided by a transactional model, we examined the predictors and effects of exposure to externalizing peers in a low-risk sample of preschoolers and kindergarteners. On the basis of daily observations of peer interactions, we calculated measures of total exposure to externalizing peers and measures of exposure to same- and other-sex externalizing peers. Analyses of predictors of externalizing peer exposure supported a homophily hypothesis for girls. Tests of peer contagion effects varied by sex, and exposure to externalizing peers predicted multiple problem behaviors for girls but not for boys. Sex differences were a function of children's own sex, but not of peers' sex. The study provides evidence of externalizing peer exposure effects in a low-risk sample of young children, notably for girls.

AB - Guided by a transactional model, we examined the predictors and effects of exposure to externalizing peers in a low-risk sample of preschoolers and kindergarteners. On the basis of daily observations of peer interactions, we calculated measures of total exposure to externalizing peers and measures of exposure to same- and other-sex externalizing peers. Analyses of predictors of externalizing peer exposure supported a homophily hypothesis for girls. Tests of peer contagion effects varied by sex, and exposure to externalizing peers predicted multiple problem behaviors for girls but not for boys. Sex differences were a function of children's own sex, but not of peers' sex. The study provides evidence of externalizing peer exposure effects in a low-risk sample of young children, notably for girls.

KW - Early childhood

KW - Externalizing behavior

KW - Peer exposure

KW - Sex differences

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=18744412115&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=18744412115&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6

DO - 10.1007/s10802-005-3564-6

M3 - Article

C2 - 15957556

AN - SCOPUS:18744412115

SN - 0091-0627

VL - 33

SP - 267

EP - 281

JO - Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

JF - Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

IS - 3

ER -

Exposure to externalizing peers in early childhood: Homophily and peer contagion processes

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this