Is It Good to Be Bad? A Longitudinal Analysis of Adolescent Popularity Motivations as a Predictor of Engagement in Relational Aggression and Risk Behaviors

SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com

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Longitudinal Studies; Adolescents; Student Motivation; At Risk Students; Peer Acceptance; Predictor Variables; Learner Engagement; Student Behavior; Aggression; Adolescent Attitudes; Victims; Student Surveys; Grade 9; Grade 10; Grade 11; Alcohol Abuse; High School Students; Foreign Countries; Antisocial Behavior

10.1177/0044118X17700319

0044-118X

We examined the impact of adolescents' popularity motivations on their involvement in relational aggression perpetration and victimization, heavy drinking, and antiauthority behavior, while also considering the role of teens' perception of their own popularity and psychosocial adjustment. High school students (N = 986; 50% female; M[subscript age] = 14.98 years) completed a battery of self-report questionnaires survey in the fall and again, 6 months later. Regression analysis controlling for Time 1 scores confirmed that stronger motivations to achieve or maintain popularity predicted increases in relational aggression perpetration and victimization, and antiauthority behavior. Furthermore, self-reported popularity predicted increases in heavy drinking, but only when popularity motivations were high. Finally, more frequent heavy drinking predicted increases in self-reported popularity over time. Findings emphasize the potential value of addressing adolescents' popularity motivations in attempts at reducing the aforementioned negative behaviors and associated risks.

As Provided

2019

EJ1217036