Can at-risk young adolescents be popular and anti-social? Sociometric status groups, anti-social behaviour, gender and ethnic background

J Adolesc. 2010 Oct;33(5):583-92. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.12.004. Epub 2010 Jan 15.

Abstract

This study aimed to extend the understanding of anti-social behaviour and its association with popularity and sociometric status in a sample of at-risk adolescents from diverse ethnic backgrounds (n = 1491, average age 14.7 years). Both overt and covert types of anti-social behaviour were used to distinguish subgroups. These subgroups were created on the basis of anti-social behaviour profile scores, using Latent Class Analysis. Moderator effects of gender and ethnic background were investigated using a log-linear analysis. The main finding was that each sociometric status group consisted of subgroups that differed in terms of prevalence of self-reported anti-social behaviour. At-risk young adolescents who reported involvement in anti-social behaviour appeared in every status group, including the popular group. Implications for school prevention programmes for anti-social behaviour are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / diagnosis
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / ethnology
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / prevention & control
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology*
  • Ethnicity / psychology*
  • Female
  • Hierarchy, Social*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Netherlands
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Conformity
  • Social Desirability*
  • Social Identification*
  • Sociometric Techniques*