NCJ Number
225171
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 37 Issue: 10 Dated: November 2008 Pages: 1163-1177
Date Published
November 2008
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This report examines two studies concerning adolescent peer crowd status and self concept and psychological well-being.
Abstract
The study’s analyses indicate that high-status crowd members may suffer and low-status crowd members benefit by denying their peer crowd affiliation, but the effects are modest in size and not entirely consistent across the two studies reported on. It is noted that peer crowds serve as an identity marker for adolescents, indicating their image and status among peers; but adolescents do not always endorse peer appraisals of crowd affiliation. Formulating a self-image in adolescence is a complex process, involving both self-reflection and consideration of feedback from significant others. The findings are also said to underscore the value of symbolic interactionist principles concerning reflected appraisal processes in understanding how peer crowd affiliation affects adolescent self-image. The study examined how congruence between peer and self-appraisals of crowd affiliation related to self-esteem and internalizing symptoms. This paper reports on 2 studies: 1 with 924 adolescents in grades 7 through 12, and a second with a more diverse population of 2,728 students in grades 9 through 11, both groups were followed for 2 years. Data were derived from these groups of youth attending public middle or high schools in two midwestern communities. Tables, figures, and references