Co-Development of Deviant Peer Affiliation and Externalizing Behavior Problems Among Youth at Risk of Maltreatment

Background/Purpose:

Previous research has documented that deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior problems are highly related and often co-occur. However, the directionality of the association between deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior problems among youth at-risk of maltreatment remains debatable. In addition, few studies have examined the longitudinal effects of child maltreatment types on co-development of deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior problems overtime. Guided by the developmental psychopathology perspective and differential association theory, this study aimed to examine: 1) whether early deviant peer affiliation predicts subsequent changes in externalizing behavior problems over time; 2) whether early externalizing behavior problems predict subsequent changes in deviant peer affiliation over time; and 3) whether initial levels and the developmental course of deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior problems covary across time. The current study also examined how types of child maltreatment (i.e., physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect) are related to the developmental trajectories of deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior problems.

Methods:

Using the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), this study included 480 youth (51.2% female, 56.6% Black, and 27.6% low income) who completed the main study variables across all three time points (ages 12, 14, and 16 years). Deviant peer affiliation was assessed at the three time points using 13 items from the modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior and Monitoring the Future Survey. Externalizing behavior problems were measured at the three time points using the Child Behavior Checklist. Each type of child maltreatment (birth to age 12) was assessed using the CPS substantiated cases. Adolescent’s gender, race, household income, and internalizing symptoms were used as covariates. Unconditional and conditional parallel-process latent growth curve modeling was conducted using Mplus 8.3.

Results:

Unconditional model produced a good fit: CFI = .994; TLI = .978; RMSEA = .053 [90% CI = .000 – .098]; SRMR = .014. On average, deviant peer affiliation increased over time, whereas externalizing behavior problems decreased over time. The initial level of externalizing behavior problems was associated with the slope of deviant peer affiliation. The conditional model also produced a good fit: CFI = .989; TLI = .964; RMSEA = .039 [90% CI = .010 - .062]; SRMR = .032. Physically abused adolescents had higher initial levels of deviant peer affiliation and showed slower increase in deviant peer affiliation over time. Emotionally abused adolescents were associated with a steeper decrease in externalizing behavior problems, while those who have been neglected were associated with slower decrease in externalizing behavior problems.

Conclusion:

Findings offer several meaningful implications for practice. First, early assessment and treatment for externalizing behavior problems may be helpful in preventing deviant peer affiliation overtime. In addition, practitioners could assess each type of maltreatment to tailor preventive interventions for early onset and ongoing development of deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior problems.