TY - JOUR
T1 - Peer status in relation to psychotic experiences and psychosocial problems in adolescents
T2 - a longitudinal school-based study
AU - El Bouhaddani, Saliha
AU - van Domburgh, Lieke
AU - Schaefer, Barbara
AU - Doreleijers, Theo A.H.
AU - Veling, Wim
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - Social exclusion is related to many adverse mental health outcomes and may be particularly harmful for mental health in adolescence when peer relations become very important. This study examined associations between low peer status and psychotic experiences, psychosocial problems and short-term courses of these symptoms. A school-based sample of adolescents (N = 1171) was investigated in 2 consecutive years using the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire and the self-report and teacher-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Peer status was measured in the second year with positive and negative peer nominations of classmates. Low peer status was, after adjusting for gender, ethnic minority status and level of education, associated with more psychosocial difficulties with a persistent course and a higher level of psychotic experiences. Of all peer status groups, being neglected had the strongest associations with mental health problems. The results of this study show that social exclusion in adolescence is related to psychotic experiences and psychosocial problems, emphasizing the importance of belonging to a social group. Customized prevention programs at individual, family and school level should target causes and consequences of social exclusion.
AB - Social exclusion is related to many adverse mental health outcomes and may be particularly harmful for mental health in adolescence when peer relations become very important. This study examined associations between low peer status and psychotic experiences, psychosocial problems and short-term courses of these symptoms. A school-based sample of adolescents (N = 1171) was investigated in 2 consecutive years using the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire and the self-report and teacher-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Peer status was measured in the second year with positive and negative peer nominations of classmates. Low peer status was, after adjusting for gender, ethnic minority status and level of education, associated with more psychosocial difficulties with a persistent course and a higher level of psychotic experiences. Of all peer status groups, being neglected had the strongest associations with mental health problems. The results of this study show that social exclusion in adolescence is related to psychotic experiences and psychosocial problems, emphasizing the importance of belonging to a social group. Customized prevention programs at individual, family and school level should target causes and consequences of social exclusion.
KW - Adolescence
KW - Peer status
KW - Psychosocial problems
KW - Psychotic experiences
KW - Social exclusion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031427148&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-017-1063-2
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-017-1063-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 29030694
SN - 1018-8827
VL - 27
SP - 701
EP - 710
JO - European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
JF - European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
IS - 6
ER -