Development and Evaluation of Measures of Multiple Dimensions of Peer Influences on Adolescent Aggression

Introduction: Although peers have been shown to have a powerful influence on adolescents’ engagement in problem behaviors such as aggression, delinquency, and drug use, few studies have examined the multiple mechanisms through which peers influence behavior. Moreover, little attention has been paid to the impact of positive peer influences such as friends’ support for prosocial behavior. The current study evaluated three recently developed measures designed to address multiple dimensions of peer influence including peer pressure for fighting, perceived peer reactions to aggressive and prosocial behavior, and peer models for aggression and prosocial behavior. The goal was to determine the extent to which these represent distinct constructs and their patterns of relations with adolescents’ problem behavior.

Method: Data were collected from 1510 students from all three grades in three urban middle schools. The sample was 55% male and 83% African American. Participants completed the Problem Behavior Frequency Scale (PBFS), Peer Support for Aggression and Nonviolence Scale, Peer Behaviors Scale, and Peer Pressure for Fighting Scale.

Results: Confirmatory factor analyses of the peer support and peer behaviors scales supported separate factors representing peer influences for delinquent and prosocial behavior. Analyses of the Peer Support for Fighting scale supported a single underlying dimension. Support was also found for an overall model that represented all five peer dimensions as distinct factors. All five factors showed the expected pattern of relations with PBFS Aggression, Delinquent Behavior, and Drug Use scales. Regression models indicated that the five peer factors accounted for 46% to 60% of the variance in PBFS measures of problem behavior. Within these models, Peer Delinquent Behavior and Peer Pressure for Fighting each made a unique contribution to predicting drug use, delinquent behavior, and physical, nonphysical and relational aggression. Peer Prosocial Behavior also emerged as a unique predictor of delinquent behavior and drug use, but not aggression.

Discussion: This study found support for viewing multiple dimensions of peer influences on problem behaviors among adolescents. It also indicated that that peers can support both delinquent behavior and prosocial behavior and that these factors are not simply polar opposites. This underscores the need for further research to clarify our understanding of the mechanisms through which positive and negative peer influences influence the development of problem behavior. These also suggest the need for prevention programs to target multiple mechanisms of peer influence.