Abstract
This 6-year longitudinal study examined girls'
peer-nominated social preference and aggression in childhood as
predictors of self- and parent-reported externalizing
symptoms, substance use (i.e., cigarette,
alcohol, and marijuana use), and sexual risk behavior in
adolescence. Participants were 148 girls from diverse ethnic
backgrounds, who were initially assessed in Grades 4-6 and again in
Grades 10-12. Results supported a moderator model,
indicating that social preference changed the nature of the association between
childhood aggression and adolescent outcomes. When accompanied by peer
rejection, aggressive behavior was moderately stable over time and
significantly associated with adolescent girls' substance use and sexual
risk behavior. However, under conditions of peer acceptance,
no significant association between childhood aggression and adolescent outcomes
emerged.
