Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Brett Laursen

Abstract

During the transition into adolescence, peer relations become increasingly important and peer influence grows, commensurate with changes in the child’s social world. Previous findings indicate that youth with relatively fewer reciprocated friendships are particularly susceptible to influence in dyadic settings, raising the possibility that friendedness may also heighten susceptibility to group influence. The current study examined the hypothesis that a lack of reciprocated friendships increases susceptibility to academic and behavioral peer group norms because youth with few friends are eager to increase affiliative opportunities and minimize the risk of being perceived as social misfits. Participants were 419 (204 girls, 215 boys) middle school (5th-7th; M=12.01 years old) Lithuanian students in 23 classes. Students identified up to five friends from a class roster. Adolescents were classified into two groups based on friendedness: few (i.e., 0-1; n=169) over several (i.e., 2 or more; n=250) reciprocated friendships. Self-reports of conduct problems, school burnout, and school grades were collected twice during an academic year (M=12.3 weeks apart). Academic achievement, disruptiveness, physical aggression, and popularity were assessed through peer nominations. Status-based norms were calculated as within-classroom correlations between peer reports of popularity and each target outcome. Descriptive norms (means and medians) were calculated as classroom averages and medians of each target outcome. Multilevel models examined whether friendedness moderated associations between norms (status-based and descriptive) and changes in target outcomes.

Extent

188 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Dissertation (PhD)--Florida Atlantic University, 2024.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00014370

Format

pdf

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