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Behavioral Correlates of Prioritizing Popularity in Adolescence

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Abstract

Little is known about individual differences in adolescents’ motivation to achieve and maintain popularity. This study examined the moderating effects of prioritizing popularity on the associations between popularity and adjustment outcomes in late adolescence. Participants were 314 Dutch eleventh-grade students (M age = 16.83 years; 52 % male) who completed measures of popularity, prioritizing popularity, and prosocial, antisocial, and risk behaviors. It was hypothesized that associations between popularity and adjustment outcomes are stronger for adolescents who prioritize popularity. The results indicate that the combination of being popular and valuing popularity was strongly related to antisocial and risk behaviors, but not to prosocial behaviors. Adolescents’ social status motivations thus play an important role in the association of popularity with antisocial and risk behaviors in late adolescence.

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Acknowledgments

Parts of this project were supported by the EFPSA Junior Researcher Programme at the 2011 European Summer School in Hungary. We thank Leonor Agan, Andra Costin, Peter Edelsbrunner, Aart Franken, and Ladislav Záliš for their contributions to this project.

Authors’ Contributions

NvdB drafted the manuscript; MD conceived of the study, and participated in its design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript; ES helped to draft the manuscript; WB helped draft the manuscript and performed the statistical analyses; AC helped conceive the study and assisted in drafting the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 3, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Nina van den Broek, Elke A. Schoneveld, William J. Burk & Antonius H. N. Cillessen

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Marike H. F. Deutz

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  1. Nina van den Broek
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Correspondence to Nina van den Broek.

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van den Broek, N., Deutz, M.H.F., Schoneveld, E.A. et al. Behavioral Correlates of Prioritizing Popularity in Adolescence. J Youth Adolescence 45, 2444–2454 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0352-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0352-7

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