Peer Influence on (Dis)Engagement in Early Adolescence: The Role of Friendship, Popularity, and Academic Status

• In Event: From COVID-19 to Peer Relationships and Beyond: Disruptions to the Academic Rhythm and Student Engagement

Abstract

Engagement and disengagement are essential predictors of school success. Next to parents and teachers, peers actively shape individual students’ (dis)engagement through influence processes. Some peers, however, may have a larger influence than others. We focused on three types of peers: friends, popular students, and intelligent students. We used peer nominations to assess the influence of these types of peers on the development of behavioral and emotional engagement and disengagement. Data stems from the TALENT-project that followed a sample of 3,409 Flemish students from 27 schools at the beginning and the end of grade 8. Longitudinal network analysis revealed that friends influenced both types of engagement and disengagement while popular and intelligent students influenced emotional (dis)engagement but not behavioral (dis)engagement.

Authors

• Nina Steenberghs, KU Leuven

• Jeroen Lavrijsen, KU Leuven

• Noona Kiuru, University of Jyväskylä

• Karine Verschueren, KU Leuven