Poster #51 - Early Predictors of Adolescent Problematic and Delinquent Behaviors

• In Event: 3-206 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

Introduction
Previous literature has suggested that children exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are often at risk for various negative life outcomes, including delinquent behaviors and aggression (Baglivio et al., 2014). Moreover, peer rejection and involvement with alcohol-using peers have also been indicative of future delinquency and behavior problems (Laird et al., 2001; Leech, Day, Richardson, & Goldschmidt, 2003). Little is known, however, about how exposure to ACEs might interact with peer rejection and peer alcohol use to predict future adolescent behavior problems. As such, this study hypothesized that exposure to a greater number of ACEs would predict greater future delinquent behavior, alcohol use, and aggressive attitudes, and that these associations would be stronger for youth who experienced greater peer rejection and had high frequency alcohol-using peers.
Method
Longitudinal data were obtained for a sample of 184 adolescents (86 males, 98 females) between the ages of 18-22. The sample was racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse; of the participants’ 58% identified themselves as Caucasian, 29% as African American, and 13% as mixed or another ethnic group, with median household income between $40,000 and $59,000. Self-report measures were used to assess number of ACEs from birth to age 18 (ACEs Questionnaire), peer rejection at age 20 (Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment), peer alcohol-use at age 20 (Alcohol and Drug Questionnaire), legitimacy of aggression at age 22 (Aggressive Attitude Questionnaire), and problematic and delinquent behaviors at age 23 (Problem Behavior Inventory and Adult Behavior Checklist).
Results
Analyses examined associations between ACEs, peer alienation, and involvement with alcohol using peers as predictors of adolescents’ problematic and delinquent behaviors and legitimization of aggression. Correlational analyses indicated a positive association between ACEs and later legitimatization of aggressive behavior (β = .17, p < .05), but no significant association with rule-breaking behavior. Regression analyses revealed that having more ACEs and greater peer alienation predicted greater rule-breaking behavior (β = .24, p < .05) and greater legitimization of aggression (β = .19, p < .05; see Figure 1). Additional analyses revealed that having more ACEs and a close peer who is frequently drunk predicted greater rule-breaking behaviors (β = .43, p < .01; see Figure 2), but interestingly, lower legitimization of aggression (β = .20, p < .05).
Discussion
These findings suggest that problematic peer experiences may in some ways exacerbate difficulties that may stem from ACEs, given the interactions between ACEs and peer behaviors for predicting rule-breaking behavior (which did not have a direct association with ACEs). Interestingly, peer alcohol use behavior had differential predictions to rule-breaking behavior vs. legitimization of aggression. It may be that youth with more ACEs who are alienated from friends develop aggressive attitudes toward others, whereas those who have friends, albeit high-alcohol using friends, do not develop such feelings because they are able to form camaraderie with others (even though it may be around substance use behavior). Additional research would be useful to determine how teens’ own alcohol use might differentially predict these outcomes.

Authors

• Lydia Sarina Florez, James Madison University
  Presenting Author

• David E. Szwedo, James Madison University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Joseph Allen, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author