Examining the adjustment of popular elementary-aged school children using a clinically-normed measure

Abstract

The characteristics and behaviors that high status children display are of importance because of the influence they have on social, psychological, and emotional adjustment (Rubin, Bukowski, & Parker, 2006). Research has demonstrated that there are at least two types of high status children: those who are sociometrically popular and those who are perceived popular (Lease, Kennedy, & Axelrod, 2002). The current study sought to determine if perceived popular children compared to other high status children, demonstrated clinically significant or at-risk levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms as well as poor adaptive skills on a nationally normed measure (i.e., Behavior Assessment System for Children; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 1992). Results suggest that popular/well-liked children seem to experience some degree of a buffer from certain negative outcomes that may be a function of the prosocial characteristics that they display. Future studies should investigate the moderating effect prosocial characteristics might have on the adjustment of popular, aggressive children.