Peer reputation among inner-city adolescents: Structure and correlates

Suniya S. Luthar, Thomas J. McMahon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

174 Scopus citations

Abstract

This investigation involved an in-depth study of peer reputation as assessed by the Revised Class Play among 2 cohorts of ninth-grade, inner-city students (N = 332). Objectives were to scrutinize and document properties of the Revised Class Play with this population and to examine connotations of peer reputation dimensions via both variable- and individual-based approaches. Results indicated high reliability of measurement. The 4 peer reputation dimensions found - peer popularity, isolation in the peer group, aggressive/disruptive reputation, and prosocial orientation - generally showed expected patterns of associations with adjustment as assessed via different informants. Exceptions to the general pattern of positive cross-domain links were findings that (a) a reputation of peer popularity was linked with prosocial as well as with aggressive/disruptive behaviors, and (b) that peer isolation was linked with academic success rather than with failure. Considerations around the future use of measures of peer reputation with adolescent populations are discussed, as are implications of associations documented across different domains of adjustment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)581-603
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Research on Adolescence
Volume6
Issue number4
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cultural Studies
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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