Relational Aggression, Social-emotional Adjustment, and Relationship Domains: Investigating Different Contexts and Approaches

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Relational aggression is associated with social-emotional maladjustment, including relationship difficulties. However, results have been mixed and have not fully explored the importance of different relationship domains and aspects of social functioning. Different relational contexts, social adjustment features, and approaches are investigated in the three papers of this symposium.

Paper one examines the impact of relational and physical aggression on multiple relationship domains (i.e., parent, teacher, sibling, and peer). Relational and physical aggression had differential effects across relationships. Notably, relational aggression demonstrated a mix of positive (e.g., higher positive peer interactions) and negative (e.g., higher teacher conflict) effects. Paper two investigates the potential non-linear effects of relational aggression in childhood on social functioning in early adulthood in order help elucidate the associations of relational aggression with both positive and negative social functioning features. Non-linear effects of relational aggression for girls was supported, such that lower levels of relational aggression may be associated with more adaptive social functioning than girls at higher levels. Paper three presents the intersection of parent and child use of relational aggression, and the potential indirect role of the parent-child relationship and parent values regarding child behavior. Parents who reported higher use of relational aggression also reported consistent values regarding their children’s peer behavior which, in part, also impacted child engagement in relational aggression.

Together, these papers investigate diverse contexts and suggest the importance of considering different relationships and contexts as well as non-linear effects when considering relational aggression and associated social functioning.

Sub Unit

• Social Relationships

Chair

• Stephanie Godleski, Rochester Institute of Technology

Discussant

• Paula Fite, University of Kansas

Individual Presentations

• Impacts of Early Childhood Relational and Physical Aggression on Children’s Relationships with Parents, Teachers, Siblings and Peers - Presenting Author: Cara Swit, University of Canterbury; Seth C. Harty

• Nonlinear Effects of Childhood Aggression on Social Functioning in Early Adulthood - Presenting Author: John L Cooley, Texas Tech University; Brianna Turney Ricker, Texas Tech University; Carlos Roryver Sanchez, Texas Tech University; Martha Putallaz, Duke University; Christina L Grimes, Duke Univeristy

• Parent and Child Relational Aggression: Examining Risk and Protection of Parent-Child Interactions - Presenting Author: Stephanie Godleski, Rochester Institute of Technology