Likeability as a Predictor and Moderator of Problematic Peer Influence during Adolescence

Abstract

The current study longitudinally observes whether likeability serves as a predictor and/or moderator of negative peer influence, specifically regarding substance use, aggression, and delinquency. Participants are 574 adolescents between the age of 15 and 17 (53% female, M age = 15.5), and measurement instruments rely on parent observation, peer-nominations, and adolescent self-report. Results indicate that there is both a direct effect of friends’ problem behavior and likability on adolescent problem behavior at time 2, and a moderating role of likability. Friends’ substance use predicts changes in adolescent substance use and the same can be said for the effect of friend’s likability. Friends’ likability also predict changes in adolescent aggression and adolescents with liked, delinquent friends increase their own delinquency over time. Limitations and alternative explanations are discussed and implications for future research include the further sophistication of the study of likability in adolescent socialization processes.