Overt and Relational Aggression in Adolescents: Social-Psychological Adjustment of Aggressors and Victims

TLDR

The study examined how relational and overt aggression and victimization are associated with adolescents’ depression, loneliness, self‑esteem, and externalizing behavior. The authors surveyed 566 ethnically diverse ninth‑ to twelfth‑grade students, 55% of whom were girls. Results confirmed that relational aggression and victimization are distinct and uniquely linked to social‑psychological adjustment, with victimization most strongly predicting internalizing symptoms, peer aggression predicting disruptive behavior, victims of multiple aggression types facing greater adjustment problems, and close‑friend support buffering victimization effects.

Abstract

Examined the relative and combined associations among relational and overt forms of aggression and victimization and adolescents' concurrent depression symptoms, loneliness, self-esteem, and externalizing behavior. An ethnically diverse sample of 566 adolescents (55% girls) in Grades 9 to 12 participated. Results replicated prior work on relational aggression and victimization as distinct forms of peer behavior that are uniquely associated with concurrent social-psychological adjustment. Victimization was associated most closely with internalizing symptoms, and peer aggression was related to symptoms of disruptive behavior disorder. Findings also supported the hypothesis that victims of multiple forms of aggression are at greater risk for adjustment difficulties than victims of one or no form of aggression. Social support from close friends appeared to buffer the effects of victimization on adjustment.