Relational Aggression, Gender, and Social-Psychological Adjustment

TLDR

Prior research indicates that boys exhibit higher overall aggression than girls. The study tests whether the observed gender difference is due to under‑studied relational aggression rather than true differences in overall aggressiveness. Relational aggression was measured via peer nominations in 491 third‑ to sixth‑grade children, while overt aggression and adjustment outcomes were also evaluated. Results confirm relational aggression as a distinct construct, show girls are significantly more relationally aggressive than boys, and link relational aggression to higher rejection, loneliness, depression, and isolation.

Abstract

Prior studies of childhood aggression have demonstrated that, as a group, boys are more aggressive than girls. We hypothesized that this finding reflects a lack of research on forms of aggression that are relevant to young females rather than an actual gender difference in levels of overall aggressiveness. In the present study, a form of aggression hypothesized to be typical of girls, relational aggression, was assessed with a peer nomination instrument for a sample of 491 third-through sixth-grade children. Overt aggression (i.e., physical and verbal aggression as assessed in past research) and social-psychological adjustment were also assessed. Results provide evidence for the validity and distinctiveness of relational aggression. Further, they indicated that, as predicted, girls were significantly more relationally aggressive than were boys. Results also indicated that relationally aggressive children may be at risk for serious adjustment difficulties (e.g., they were significantly more rejected and reported significantly higher levels of loneliness, depression, and isolation relative to their nonrelationally aggressive peers).