Peer rejection and school adjustment in elementary school children: mediating role of problem behaviours

The study aims to reveal the mediating role of problem behaviours between peer rejection and school adjustment in elementary aged children. Data were collected for sample of elementary school students in Turkey (n = 791). Path analysis supported the mediating role of problem behaviours between peer rejection and school adjustment in general. Furthermore, aggressive with peers did not have a mediating role between peer rejection and school liking and self-directiveness. In contrary, anxiety/fearful did not have mediating role between peer rejection and collaborative participation and school avoidance. The children’s school adjustment could, to some extent, be explained by their peer rejection and problem behaviours. Implications for understanding the role of peer rejection and problem behaviours on school adjustment are discussed.