Authors:

Megan Rust

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About Paper:

In order to address a gap in social development literature regarding how parents influence adolescent popularity, this study examines how parental pressure for popularity longitudinally influences adolescent popularity through a serial mediation model across three timepoints, controlling for Time 1 (T1) popularity status, age, and gender. We hypothesized that parental popularity pressure may internalize into T1 popularity status insecurity, which could externalize into Time 2 (T2) greater relational aggression, ultimately increasing Time 3 (T3) popularity. The results found that T1 parental pressure for popularity directly predicted higher T3 peer-nominated popularity (B = .1667, p < .01), mediated sequentially by T1 popularity status insecurity and T2 relational aggression (indirect effect = .0096, 95% Cl = .0033, .0191). Specifically, greater parental popularity pressure led to increased popularity status insecurity (B = .2480, p < .001), which then manifested as relational aggression (8 = .1771, p < .001), leading to increased popularity (B = .2115, p < .001). These results exemplify how adolescents' experiences with their parents in the home environment translate into their experiences with their peers in the school environment. Parental pressure, even when well-intentioned, may unintentionally promote popularity through relational aggression, rather than possessing likability. Understanding this process is important so that parents may learn how to encourage social goals in ways that support adolescents' well-being, rather than increasing their insecurity or maladaptive social behaviors.

Source:

DePaul University

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Co-authors:

Megan Rust