Popularity, likeability, and risk-taking in middle adolescence

Abstract

This study investigated the roles of adolescent popularity and likeability in eight domains of risk-taking in Australian grade 9 students (53% girls). The eight domains included previously examined areas of aggressive behaviours, alcohol use, and sexual intercourse, and areas where there is scarce information, including antisocial activities, unprotected intercourse, body imagerelated risk-taking, unsafe road practices, and stranger-related risk-taking. The results indicated a clear association between popularity and higher risk-taking in five of the eight domains. This is contrasted with likeability, which was not directly related to risk-taking aside from one two-way interaction with gender for sexual intercourse. The findings demonstrate the importance of including a broader range of risk-taking activities when considering popularity, particularly stranger-related risk-taking.

Associations between risk behaviour and social status in European adolescents

“…By collecting data in two western European countries, we aimed at improving the generalizability of prior findings, as similar research has been mainly conducted in the USA (e.g., Mayeux et al, 2008;Prinstein et al, 2011) and Australia (Hawke & Rieger, 2013). Replication in other European countries is needed, for example in Eastern European countries with lower socio-economic background.…”

“…Sexual intercourse, which in adolescence is seen as a risk behaviour because of related unintentional pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (Saewyc, Magee, & Pettingell, 2004), is also positively associated with popularity (Hawke & Rieger, 2013;Mayeux et al, 2008;Prinstein et al, 2011;Prinstein, Meade, & Cohen, 2003). However, studies that also took likeability into account showed that alcohol use was not associated with likeability (Mayeux et al, 2008), nor was sexual intercourse (Hawke & Rieger, 2013).…”

Social Status of Adolescents With an Early Onset of Externalizing Behavior: The SNARE Study

“…However, whereas these two previous studies focused on number of friends as indicator of social status, popularity, sometimes referred to as perceived popularity, is a different conceptualization of social status (Cillessen & Rose, 2005; Gifford-Smith & Brownell, 2003; LaFontana & Cillessen, 1998; Mayeux, Houser, & Dyches, 2011; Parkhurst & Hopmeyer, 1998). Whereas being well liked or having many friends is mainly associated with prosocial characteristics such as being kind and trustworthy (Parkhurst & Hopmeyer, 1998), popularity has been linked to different forms of externalizing behaviors such as aggression, alcohol use, tobacco use, and norm-breaking behavior (e.g., Dijkstra, Lindenberg, Verhulst, Ormel, & Veenstra, 2009; Hawke & Rieger, 2013; Mayeux, Sandstrom, & Cillessen, 2008). Thus, although popularity is generally associated with externalizing behavior, acceptance is not (see also, Agan et al, 2014; Cillessen & Rose, 2005; Mayeux et al, 2011).…”

Peer Acceptance and Sexual Behaviors from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

“…For example, some research indicates that adolescents who are more accepted by their peers-whose peers consider them to be more likeable or popular-have fewer sexual partners than their less accepted peers (Prinstein, Meade, and Cohen 2003) and are less likely to become pregnant (Miller-Johnson et al 1999). The results of other research suggest that peer acceptance is not associated with number of sexual partners (Prinstein, Choukas-Bradley, Helms, Brechwald, and Rancourt 2011), pregnancy (Underwood, Kupersmidt, and Coie 1996), or frequency of sex without condoms (Hawke and Rieger 2013). Past studies have examined either normative sexual behaviors or sexual risk indicators, not both.…”

“…Prior research suggests that the association between adolescent peer acceptance and sexual behaviors may vary by gender. For instance, one Australian study found that well-liked 9 th grade boys are 9 times more likely to have sexual intercourse than well-liked 9 th grade girls (Hawke and Rieger 2013). Gendered perceptions for the acceptability of sexual behaviors may explain these differences, given that intercourse may be perceived as more acceptable for adolescent boys than girls, and more likeable boys may have more sexual opportunities than less-liked male peers.…”