Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T19:54:01.591Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Depressed mood and peer rejection in childhood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2008

Michel Boivin ,
François Poulin  and
Frank Vitaro
Michel Boivin*
Affiliation:
Université Laval, Québec
François Poulin
Affiliation:
Université Laval, Québec
Frank Vitaro
Affiliation:
Université de Montréal, Research Unit on Children's Social Maladjustment
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Michel Boivin, Ecole Psychologie Pavillon F. A. Savard, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to compare the depression profile of four subtypes of peer-rejected children and a group of neglected children to a normative sample and evaluate whether or not these subgroups showed distinctive patterns. A total of 140 children were selected on the basis of peer status and peer assessment of social behavior. Depressed mood was evaluated by self-reports and peer assessments. As expected, withdrawn-rejected children expressed stronger feelings of depression, both generally (i.e., higher Child Depression Inventory [CDI] scores) and specifically (i.e., energy/interest), as well as more loneliness and social dissatisfaction than the normative group. They were also seen by their peers as being sadder. The aggressive-withdrawn-rejected children displayed results that were very similar to those of withdrawn-rejected children. They manifested stronger feelings of depression both generally (i.e., higher CDI scores) and specifically (i.e., mood/affect) and expressed more loneliness and social dissatisfaction than the normative group. They were also nominated more often as getting their feelings hurt easily and as being usually sad. Contrary to expectations, aggressive-rejected children were also found to differ from the normative children but only on a general index of depression, not on the more specific measures nor on loneliness and social dissatisfaction. Also, they did not differ from the normative sample on the peer assessment items. The neglected children did not differ from the normative sample on any of the self-report or peer assessment measures. The results concerning withdrawn-rejected and aggressive-withdrawn-rejected children suggest that peer rejection could play a mediating role with respect to feelings of distress and confirm that these children are at risk for internalizing problems. The pattern of results for aggressive-rejected children suggests that peer rejection may not play such a role.

Type
Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , Summer 1994 , pp. 483 - 498
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Altmann, E. O., & Gotlib, I. H. (1988). The social behavior of depressed children: An observational study. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 29–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Asher, S. R., & Coie, J. D. (1990). Peer rejection in childhood. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Asher, S. R., & Wheeler, V. A. (1985). Children's loneliness: A comparison of rejected and neglected peer status. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 500–505.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bergman, L. R., & Magnusson, D. (1987). A person approach to the study of the development of adjustment problems: an empirical example and some research strategy considerations. In Magnussen, D. & Ohman, A. (Eds.), Psychopathotogy: An interactional perspective (pp. 383–401). New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Boivin, M., & Bégin, G. (1986). Temporal reliability and validity of three sociometric status assessments with young children. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 18, 167–172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boivin, M., & Bégin, G. (1989). Peer status and self-perception among early elementary school children: The case of the rejected children. Child Development, 60, 591–596.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boivin, M., & Hymel, S. (1993). The self-perceptions and peer experiences of aggressive-rejected and withdrawn-rejected children. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Boivin, M., Thomassin, L., & Alain, M. (1989). Peer rejection and self-perceptions among early elementary school children: Aggressive rejectees vs. withdrawn rejectees. In Schneider, B. H., Attili, G., Nadel, J., & Weissberg, P. (Eds.), Social competence in developmental perspective (pp. 392–393). Boston: Kluwer Academic.Google Scholar
Boivin, M., & Vitaro, F. (in press). The impact of peer relationships on aggression in childhood: Inhibition through coercion or promotion through peer support? In McCord, J. (Ed.), Coercion and punishment in long-term perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Cairns, R. B., Cairns, B. D., Neckerman, H. J., Gest, S. D., & Gariepy, J.-L. (1988). Social networks and aggressive behavior: Peer support or peer rejection? Developmental Psychology. 25, 320–330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carey, M. P., Gresham, F. M., Ruggiero, L., Faulstich, M. E., & Enyart, P. (1987). Children's Depression Inventory: Construct and discriminant validity across clinical and nonreferred (control) populations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 755–761.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cillessen, A. H. N., van Ijzendoom, H. W., van Lieshout, C. F. M., & Hartup, W. W. (1992). Heterogeneity among peer-rejected boys: Subtypes and stabilities. Child Development, 63, 893–905.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coie, J. D., & Dodge, K. A. (1983). Continuities and changes in children's social status: A five year longitudinal study. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 29, 261–282.Google Scholar
Coie, J. D., Dodge, K. A., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (1990). Peer group behavior and social status. In Asher, S. R. & Coie, J. D. (Eds.), Peer rejection in childhood (pp. 17–59). New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Coie, J. D., Lochman, J. E., Terry, R., & Hyman, C. (1992). Predicting early adolescent disorder from childhood aggression and peer rejection. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(5), 783–792.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cytryn, L., & McKnew, D. H. (1972). Proposed classification of childhood depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 129, 63–69.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Epstein, S. (1973). The self-concept revisited or a theory of a theory. American Psychologist, 28, 405–416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
French, D. C. (1988). Heterogeneity of peer-rejected boys: Aggressive and nonaggressive subtypes. Child Development, 59, 976–985.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
French, D. C. (1990). Heterogeneity of peer rejected girls. Child Development, 61, 2028–2031.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glasberg, R., & Aboud, F. E. (1981). A developmental perspective on the study of depression: Children's evaluative reactions to sadness. Developmental Psychology, 17, 195–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenwald, A. G. (1980). The totalitarian ego: Fabrication and revision of personal history. American Psychologist, 7, 603–618.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrington, R. G. (1984). Assessing childhood anxiety and depression for effective clinical and psychoeducational assessments (pp. 161–184). Kansas City, KS: Test Corporation of America.Google Scholar
Harter, S. (1983). Development perspectives on the self-system. In Hetherington, E. M. (Ed.) and Mussen, P. H. (Series Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Socialization personality and social development (Vol. 4, pp. 275–385). New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Harter, S., & Nowakowski, M. (1987). Manual for the Dimensions of Depression Profile for Children and Adolescents. Unpublished manuscript, University of Denver, Denver.Google Scholar
Hymel, S., Bowker, A., & Woody, E. (1993). Aggressive versus withdrawn unpopular children: Variations in peer, teacher and self perceptions in multiple domains. Child Development, 64, 879–896.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hymel, S., & Franke, S. (1985). Children's peer relations: Assessing self-perceptions. In Schneider, B. H., Rubin, K. H., & Ledingham, J. E. (Eds.), Children's peer relations: Issues in assessment and intervention (pp. 75–92). New York: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Hymel, S., Rubin, K. H., Rowden, L., & LeMare, L. (1990). Children's peer relationships: Longitudinal prediction of internalizing and externalizing problems from middle to late childhood. Child Development, 61, 2004–2021.Google Scholar
Jacobson, R. H., Lahey, B. B., & Strauss, C. C. (1983). Correlates of depressed mood in normal children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 29–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kandel, D. B. (1982). Epidemiological and psychosocial perspectives on adolescent drug use. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 21, 328–347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kandel, D. B., & Davies, M. (1982). Epidemiology of depressive mood in adolescents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 39, 1205–1212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kovacs, M. (1983). The Children's Depression Inventory: A self-rated depression scale for school-aged youngsters. Unpublished manuscript, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh.Google Scholar
Kovacs, M. (1985). The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 21, 995–998.Google ScholarPubMed
Kupersmidt, J., Coie, J. D., & Dodge, K. A. (1990). The role of poor peer relationships in the development of disorder. In Asher, S. R. & Coie, J. D. (Eds.), Peer rejection in childhood (pp. 274–305). New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Ledingham, J. E., & Schwartzman, A. E. (1984). A 3-year follow-up of aggressive and withdrawn behavior in childhood: Preliminary findings. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 12, 157–168.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Magnusson, D., & Bergman, L. R. (1990). A pattern approach to the study of pathways from childhood to adulthood. In Robins, L. N. & Rutter, M. (Eds.), Straight and devious pathways from childhood to adulthood (pp. 101–115). New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Masten, A. S., Morison, P., & Pellegrini, D. S. (1985). A revised class play method of peer assessment. Developmental Psychology, 21, 523–533.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCandless, B. R., & Marshall, H. R. (1957). A picture sociometric technique for preschool children and its relation to teacher judgment of friendship. Child Development, 28, 139–147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Newcomb, A. F., & Bukowski, W. M. (1983). Social impact and social preference as determinants of children's peer group status. Development Psychology, 19, 856–867.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newcomb, A. F., Bukowski, W. M., & Pattee, L. (1993). Children's peer relations: A meta-analytic review of popular, rejected, neglected, controversial, and average sociometric status. Psychological Bulletin, 113, 99–128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parker, J. G., & Asher, S. R. (1987). Peer relations and later personal adjustment: Are low-accepted children at risk. Psychological Bulletin, 102, 357–389.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parkhurst, J. T., & Asher, S. R. (1992). Peer rejection in middle school: Subgroup differences in behavior, loneliness, and interpersonal concerns. Developmental Psychology, 28, 231–241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patterson, G. R., & Capaldi, D. M. (1990). A mediated model for boys depressed mood. In Rolf, J., Masten, A. S., Cicchetti, D., Nuechterlein, K. H., & Weintraub, S. (Eds.), Risk and protective factors in the development of psychopathology (pp. 141–163). New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patterson, C. J., Kupersmidt, J. B., & Griesler, P. C. (1990). Children's perceptions of self and of relationships with others as a function of sociometric status. Child Development, 61, 1335–1349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peterson, L., Mullins, L. L., & Ridley-Johson, R. (1985). Childhood depression: Peer reactions to depression and life stress. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 597–609.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pulkkinen, L., & Korpela, K. (1986. 07). Adolescent boys' self-reports of their feelings and attitudes. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Research on Aggression, Evanston, IL.Google Scholar
Rubin, K. H., & Hymel, S. (1987, 04). Predicting childhood depression: A longitudinal investigation. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, MD.Google Scholar
Rubin, K. H., Hymel, S., LeMare, L., & Rowden, L. (1989). Children experiencing social difficulties: Sociometric neglect reconsidered. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 21, 94–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rubin, K. H., LeMare, L., & Lollis, S. (1990). Social withdrawal in childhood: Developmental pathways to peer rejection. In Asher, S. R. & Coie, J. D. (Eds.), Peer rejection in childhood (pp. 217–249). New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Rubin, K. H., & Mills, R. S. (1988). The many faces of social isolation in childhood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 6, 916–924.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruble, D. N. (1983). The development of social comparison processes and their role in achievement-related self-socialization. In Higgins, E. T., Ruble, D. N., & Hartup, W. W. (Eds.), Social cognition and social development (pp. 134–157). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Rutter, M. (1992). Adolescence as a transition period: continuities and discontinuities in conduct disorder. Journal of Adolescent Health, 13, 451–460.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saylor, C. F., Finch, A. J., Furey, W., Baskin, C. H., & Kelly, M. M. (1984). Construct validity for measures of childhood depression: Application of multi-trait-multimethod methodology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 977–985.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vosk, B., Forehand, R., Parker, J. B. & Richard, K. (1982). A multimethod comparison of popular and unpopular children. Developmental Psychology, 18, 571–575.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, G. A., & Asher, S. R. (1987, 04). Peer and self-perceptions of peer rejected children: Issues in classification and subgrouping. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, MD.Google Scholar
Younger, A. J., & Boyko, K. A. (1987). Aggression and withdrawal as social schemas underlying children's peer perceptions. Child Development, 58, 1094–1100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed