The Protective Role of Group Identity: Sectarian Antisocial Behavior and Adolescent Emotion Problems

Christine E. Merrilees; Laura Taylor; Marcie C. Goeke-Morey; Peter Shirlow; E. Mark Cummings; Ed Cairns

doi:10.1111/cdev.12125

The Protective Role of Group Identity: Sectarian Antisocial Behavior and Adolescent Emotion Problems

Christine E. Merrilees^*, Laura Taylor, Marcie C. Goeke-Morey, Peter Shirlow, E. Mark Cummings, Ed Cairns

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The protective role of strength of group identity was examined for youth in a context of protracted political conflict. Participants included 814 adolescents (M_age = 13.61, SD = 1.99 at Time 1) participating in a longitudinal study in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Utilizing hierarchical linear modeling, the results show that the effect of exposure to sectarian antisocial behaviors has a stronger effect on youth emotion problems for older adolescents. The results also show that youth with higher strength of group identity reported fewer emotion problems in the face of sectarian antisocial behavior but that this buffering effect is stronger for Protestants compared to Catholics. Implications are discussed for understanding the role of social identity in postaccord societies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	412-420
Number of pages	9
Journal	Child Development
Volume	85
Issue number	2
Early online date	17 May 2013
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12125
Publication status	Published - Mar 2014

Bibliographical note

Keywords

POLITICAL VIOLENCE
SOCIAL IDENTITY
DIFFICULTIES QUESTIONNAIRE
NORTHERN-IRELAND
STRENGTHS
ADJUSTMENT
EXPERIENCE
CONFLICT
FAMILIES
SUPPORT

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Education

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1111/cdev.12125

24 Citations
1 Article

Youth in Contexts of Political Violence: A Developmental Approach to the Study of Youth Identity and Emotional Security in Their Communities
Merrilees, C. E., Taylor, L., Goeke-Morey, M. C., Shirlow, P. & Cummings, E. M., Feb 2014, In: Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology . 20, 1, p. 26-38 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
11 Citations (Scopus)

Cite this

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title = "The Protective Role of Group Identity: Sectarian Antisocial Behavior and Adolescent Emotion Problems",

abstract = "The protective role of strength of group identity was examined for youth in a context of protracted political conflict. Participants included 814 adolescents (Mage = 13.61, SD = 1.99 at Time 1) participating in a longitudinal study in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Utilizing hierarchical linear modeling, the results show that the effect of exposure to sectarian antisocial behaviors has a stronger effect on youth emotion problems for older adolescents. The results also show that youth with higher strength of group identity reported fewer emotion problems in the face of sectarian antisocial behavior but that this buffering effect is stronger for Protestants compared to Catholics. Implications are discussed for understanding the role of social identity in postaccord societies.",

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author = "Merrilees, {Christine E.} and Laura Taylor and Goeke-Morey, {Marcie C.} and Peter Shirlow and Cummings, {E. Mark} and Ed Cairns",

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AU - Cummings, E. Mark

AU - Cairns, Ed

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KW - SOCIAL IDENTITY

KW - DIFFICULTIES QUESTIONNAIRE

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KW - STRENGTHS

KW - ADJUSTMENT

KW - EXPERIENCE

KW - CONFLICT

KW - FAMILIES

KW - SUPPORT

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The Protective Role of Group Identity: Sectarian Antisocial Behavior and Adolescent Emotion Problems

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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Research output

Youth in Contexts of Political Violence: A Developmental Approach to the Study of Youth Identity and Emotional Security in Their Communities

Cite this