ERIC Number: EJ1056790
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Apr
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
The Negative Effects of Prejudice on Interpersonal Relationships within Adolescent Peer Groups
Poteat, V. Paul; Mereish, Ethan H.; Birkett, Michelle
Developmental Psychology, v51 n4 p544-553 Apr 2015
Social development theories highlight the centrality of peer groups during adolescence and their role in socializing attitudes and behaviors. In this longitudinal study, we tested the effects of group-level prejudice on ensuing positive and negative interpersonal interactions among peers over a 7-month period. We used social network analysis to identify peer groups based on sociometric nominations, followed by multilevel modeling of the effects of sexual prejudice at the group level on interpersonal interactions among individuals in these groups. As hypothesized, the interpersonal interactions in peer groups with stronger group-level sexual prejudice were distinct from and poorer than those in groups with weaker group-level sexual prejudice. Moreover, longitudinal models indicated that adolescents in groups with stronger initial sexual prejudice reported worse interpersonal interactions with their peers seven months later. These findings provide a contextual understanding of prejudice and its negative effects on how adolescents come to relate with one another over time.
Descriptors: Adolescents, Peer Groups, Interpersonal Relationship, Social Development, Adolescent Development, Longitudinal Studies, Peer Relationship, Social Networks, Network Analysis, Hierarchical Linear Modeling, Gender Bias, High School Students, Socialization
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A