Studying Peers in Research on Social Withdrawal: Why Broader Assessments of Peers are Needed

Bowker, Julie C.; White, Hope I.

doi:10.1111/cdep.12404

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(56 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…For instance, higher security in peer attachment intervenes on the negative effect of parental attachment insecurity on teenagers’ depressive symptoms, particularly in girls [ 29 , 51 ]. Other authors [ 5 , 52 ] reported that teenagers who are insecurely attached to their parents but securely attached to their peers show better adjustment and fewer symptoms [ 5 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 52 , 53 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Power! Secure Peer Attachment Mediates the Effect of Parental Attachment on Depressive Withdrawal of Teenagers

Muzi

Rogier

Pace

2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Adolescents’ depressive social withdrawal is a relevant concern for mental health professionals, and it is widespread among community teenagers in form of subclinical symptoms. Different studies suggest that insecure attachment representations increase the adolescents’ likelihood to show symptoms of withdrawal (e.g., loneliness). This study explored the effect of the general attachment internal working model (IWM) and the independent and cumulative effects of the specific attachment representations of parents—in terms of secure base/safe haven—and peers on adolescents’ withdrawal. Additionally, the mediation of peer attachment on the effect of parental attachment on symptoms was explored. All analyses were conducted controlling for the difference between teenagers living with parents together or divorced/separated, as children of divorcees are considered more exposed to stressors. Ninety-one adolescents aged 12–17 years old were assessed online during the COVID pandemic period, employing the Youth Self-Report to assess withdrawal and the Friends and Family Interview to assess attachment-general IWM and attachment-specific representations. Results show no influence of parents together/separated or of the general IWM on withdrawal, but higher parent secure base/safe haven and peer attachment cumulatively predicted 10–21% less withdrawal. Moreover, more positive peer attachment mediated 61% of the effect of the parental secure attachment on withdrawal, revealing an indirect effect of parental attachment on withdrawal through peer attachment. In conclusion, both parents and peers are influential on adolescent mental health, and fostering positive peer relationships can buffer the effect of dysfunctional family relationships on teenagers’ withdrawal.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Power! Secure Peer Attachment Mediates the Effect of Parental Attachment on Depressive Withdrawal of Teenagers

Muzi

Rogier

Pace

2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Social withdrawal refers to the behavioral tendency to withdraw from and avoid familiar and unfamiliar peers (Rubin et al, 2009). Although its concurrent and predictive psychological risks across the lifespan are now well-established, so too is the heterogeneity in the negative psychological outcomes of social withdrawal (Bowker et al, 2012;Bowker & White, 2021). Put simply, not all individuals who regularly withdraw from their peers suffer significantly.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-cultural measurement of social withdrawal motivations across 10 countries using multiple-group factor analysis alignment

Bowker

Sette

Ooi

et al. 2022

International Journal of Behavioral Development

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The goal of this study was to evaluate the measurement invariance of an adapted assessment of motivations for social withdrawal ( Social Preference Scale–Revised; SPS-R) across cultural contexts and explore associations with loneliness. Participants were a large sample of university students ( N = 4,397; Mage = 20.08 years, SD = 2.96; 66% females) from 10 countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, India, Italy, South Korea, Norway, Turkey, and the United States). With this cross-cultural focus, we illustrate the multiple-group factor analysis alignment method, an approach developed to assess measurement invariance when there are several groups. Results indicated approximate measurement invariance across the 10 country groups. Additional analyses indicated that overall, shyness, avoidance, and unsociability are three related, but distinct factors, with some notable country differences evident (e.g., in China, India, and Turkey). Shyness and avoidance were related positively to loneliness in all countries, but the strength of the association between shyness and loneliness differed in Italy and India relative to the other countries. Results also indicated that unsociability was related positively to loneliness in the United States only. Theoretical and assessment implications are discussed.

show abstract

“…It seems that building cross-sex peer relations can be particularly useful for gay adolescents since it is known that heterosexual girls tend to express less prejudice than heterosexual boys towards gay boys, and thus, cross-sex friendship may provide for gay adolescents an opportunity to establish a larger social support network [ 116 ]. Further to this, Bowker and White [ 117 ] also draw attention to the psychological benefits of other-sex relations for withdrawn boys, “because their behaviors may be more consistent with gender norms for girls, especially during middle childhood and early adolescence when gender norms tend to become more flexible” [ 117 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Inclusion of Other-Sex Peers in Peer Networks and Sense of Peer Integration in Early Adolescence: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Study

Grygiel

Rębisz

Gaweł

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The main goal of the analysis presented in this paper is to examine the dynamics of including other-sex peers in the peer networks of early adolescents, aged 11 (at T1) and 13 (at T2), and the relationship between sex heterophily and changes in the sense of peer integration. The analysis was conducted using the Latent Difference Score (LDS) model with data from a representative nationwide longitudinal study in Poland (n = 5748). With reference to the dynamics related to the heterophilic process, the research confirmed that at the beginning of grade 5 of primary school, heterophily is still relatively rare, yet towards the end of early adolescence, there is a gradual shift, more strongly in girls, towards breaking through the strictly same-sex segregation and embarking on heterophilic relationships. Importantly, the LDS model—even when controlling for different measures of peer network—showed significant and positive (among both girls and boys) relations between establishing cross-sex relationships and the sense of peer integration. The results indicate that the appearance of the opposite sex in the peer network between grades 5 and 6 will improve the sense of peer integration. The findings are discussed in relation to results from other studies in the field.

show abstract

Studying Peers in Research on Social Withdrawal: Why Broader Assessments of Peers are Needed

Cited by 15 publications

References 38 publications

Peer Power! Secure Peer Attachment Mediates the Effect of Parental Attachment on Depressive Withdrawal of Teenagers

Peer Power! Secure Peer Attachment Mediates the Effect of Parental Attachment on Depressive Withdrawal of Teenagers

Cross-cultural measurement of social withdrawal motivations across 10 countries using multiple-group factor analysis alignment

The Inclusion of Other-Sex Peers in Peer Networks and Sense of Peer Integration in Early Adolescence: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About