Nonshared environmental mediation of the association between deviant peer affiliation and adolescent externalizing behaviors over time

Results from a cross-lagged monozygotic twin differences design

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9787769
AutoresAlexandra Burt (0000-0001-5538-7431, Michigan State University, autor de correspondencia), Matt Mcgue (0000-0002-5580-1433, University of Minnesota), William G Iacono (0000-0002-3194-3090, University of Minnesota)
Año2009
Volumen45
Número6
Páginas1752-1760
Fecha de publicación2009-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaDevelopmental Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0012-1649 • E-ISSN: 1939-0599
EditorialAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/a0016687
PMID19899929
PMCIDPMC2778800
OpenAlexW1974403142
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas14
Referencias citadas21

It has been argued that peers are the most important agent of adolescent socialization and, more specifically, that this socialization process occurs at the child-specific (or nonshared environmental) level (J. R. Harris, 1998; R. Plomin & Asbury, 2005). The authors sought to empirically evaluate this nonshared environmental peer influence hypothesis by examining the association between externalizing behaviors and deviant peer affiliation in a sample of 454 pairs of monozygotic (genetically identical) twins, assessed at ages 14 and 17, within a cross-lagged twin differences design. Results argued against a causal nonshared environmental influence of peer affiliation on the development of externalizing behaviors and in favor of nonshared environmental "selection." In particular, the twin with more externalizing behaviors at age 14 reported increased deviant peer affiliation relative to his or her co-twin 3 years later, regardless of his or her genetic predispositions toward externalizing behavior. Such findings suggest that adolescents with higher levels of externalizing behaviors select or shape (either intentionally or inadvertently) subsequent environmental experiences to involve increased affiliation with deviant peers. Implications are discussed

Association (psychology · Developmental psychology · Externalization · Heritability · Mediation · Monozygotic twin · Peer group · Social environment · Socialization · Twin study · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Cognitive Abilities and Testing · Psychology · Social Psychology