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Good news for all the young geeks anxious about heading back to school: the 'cool kids' in middle school don’t hold onto that status. A 10-year-long study following a group of American kids from ages 13 to 23 shows that those who get into small mischief as seventh and eighth graders see their popularity drop as they grow older. What seemed 'cool' in middle school, like shoplifting or getting drunk, becomes less appealing as they mature.
As the study published in Child Development points out, using minor delinquency or early romantic experiences to appear mature or 'cool' has been recognized in both academic studies and pop culture, from Rebel Without a Cause to Mean Girls. Unfortunately, this rebellious social status doesn’t last.
Tracking 184 children into their adulthood, the study found that those who engaged in minor rebellious behaviors in middle school, which often seemed impressive to their peers at the time, were less socially successful as they grew older. Kids who snuck into movies, swiped items from their parents, dated frequently, or prioritized physical attractiveness in friendships were seen as less popular and socially competent by their 20s. Moreover, this early delinquency predicted higher rates of drug use and criminal behavior in adulthood.
"You know the person who seemed so cool … they did thrilling things that were intimidating and appeared glamorous at the time—and then, five or ten years later, they’re stuck in a low-level job with troubled relationships," said Joseph Allen, lead author and psychology researcher at the University of Virginia, told CNN. "Meanwhile, the other kid—who was quiet, had solid friendships, but didn’t stand out much—is thriving."
Earlier research suggests that it’s often the less-mature teens who attempt to seem older. The researchers propose that for these adolescents, "pseudo-mature behaviors" take the place of developing social skills and meaningful friendships, which ultimately leaves them less socially competent and mature over time.
That’s not to say that minor teenage misbehavior condemns you for life. The study followed 184 kids from the southeastern U.S., with 11 dropping out before the researchers conducted the follow-up in the subjects' early adulthood.
However, it does imply that kids may benefit from taking more time to just be kids—spending time having sleepovers with friends and learning how to interact without relying on substances like drugs and alcohol. Perhaps add this to the substance abuse prevention curriculum: delay the partying for a few years, and you’ll likely be more popular in college.
Editor's note: This story first appeared in 2015 and was updated in 2018.
