Citation

Fite P, Wimsatt A, Vitulano M, Rathert J, Schwartz S. J. Psychopathol. Behav. Assess. 2012; 34(2): 164-171.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10862-011-9269-y

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The current study further evaluated the association between rule-breaking behavior and academic performance by examining peer rejection and depressive symptoms as potential mediators of this association. Study hypotheses were examined using a sample of 147 school-age children (54.4% male) ranging from five to 13 years of age ( M = 8.22, SD = 1.99). A meditational path model was estimated, and findings suggested that peer rejection mediated the association between rule-breaking behavior and academic performance two months later when also considering the stability of academic performance. That is, high levels of rule-breaking behavior were associated with high levels of peer rejection, which in turn was associated with poor academic performance. Depressive symptoms were not indicated as a mediator of this association.

FINDINGS and their implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS: Juvenile justice; Juvenile delinquency;