The Role of Preschool Relational and Physical Aggression in the Transition to Kindergarten: Links With Social-Psychological Adjustment

Research Findings: The transition to kindergarten has important ramifications for future achievement and psychosocial outcomes. Research suggests that physical aggression may be related to difficulty during school transitions, yet no studies to date have examined the role of relational aggression in these transitions. This article examines how engagement in preschool physical and relational aggression predict psychosocial adjustment during the kindergarten school year. Observations and teacher reports of aggression were collected in preschool, and kindergarten teachers reported on student–teacher relationship quality, child internalizing problems, and peer acceptance in kindergarten. Results suggested that preschool physical aggression predicted reduced peer acceptance and increased conflict with the kindergarten teacher. High levels of relational aggression, when not combined with physical aggression, were related to more positive transitions to kindergarten in the domains assessed. Practice or Policy: These data lend support to the need for interventions among physically aggressive preschoolers that target not only concurrent behavior but also future aggression and adjustment in kindergarten. Thus, educators should work to encourage social influence in more prosocial ways among aggressive preschoolers.     

Relational Aggression, Overt Aggression, and Friendship

This study ( n = 315 9–12-year-olds) was conducted to assess whether the social problems that relationally and overtly aggressive children typically experience in the peer group context are also exhibited in the dyadic, friendship context. The qualities of children's friendships (e.g., levels of intimacy) and of the importance of those qualities (e.g., the importance of intimacy) were assessed with self-report instruments adapted from past research. Results indicated that the friendships of relationally aggressive children were characterized by relatively high levels of intimacy, exclusivity/jealousy, and relational aggression within the friendship context. In contrast, the friendships of overtly aggressive children were characterized by engaging together in aggressive acts toward those outside the friendship. In addition, overtly aggressive children placed relatively high importance on these coalitional acts and on companionship with their friends. Implications for our understanding of aggressive children and for our knowledge of children's friendships are discussed.     

The Role of Overt Aggression, Relational Aggression, and Prosocial Behavior in the Prediction of Children's Future Social Adjustment

2 limitations of past research on social adjustment were addressed: (1) the tendency to focus on forms of aggression that are typical of boys (e.g., overt aggression) and to neglect forms that are more typical of girls (e.g., relational aggression) and (2) the tendency to study negative behaviors (e.g., aggression), to the exclusion of positive behaviors (e.g., prosocial acts). Using a longitudinal design ( n = 245; third- through sixth-grade children, 9–12 years old), assessments of children's relational aggression, overt aggression, prosocial behavior, and social adjustment were obtained at 3 points during the academic year. Findings showed that, as has been demonstrated in past research for overt aggression, individual differences in relational aggression were relatively stable over time. Additionally, relational aggression contributed uniquely to the prediction of future social maladjustment, beyond that predicted by overt aggression. Finally, prosocial behavior contributed unique information (beyond that provided by overt and relational aggression) to the prediction of future social adjustment.     

Relational and Physical Aggression among Preschoolers: The Effect of Language Skills and Gender

This study examined the relation between language skills, gender, and relational/ physical aggression. Language skills of 100 preschoolers were assessed with 3 standardized instruments. Relational/physical aggression was rated by the children's teachers. Results indicated that relational and physical aggression tended to increase as language scores decreased. When the alternative form of aggression was held constant, girls' expressive language skills predicted relational aggression more than boys', and receptive language skills predicted physical aggression more than relational aggression, especially for boys. Classroom variables predicted relational aggression more than physical aggression. Results suggest that receptive and expressive language are important in predicting form and level of aggression. Implications for early identification of girls at risk for problem behavior in the preschool years are discussed.     

Relational and Physical Aggression among Preschoolers: The Effect of Language Skills and Gender

This study examined the relation between language skills, gender, and relational/ physical aggression. Language skills of 100 preschoolers were assessed with 3 standardized instruments. Relational/physical aggression was rated by the children's teachers. Results indicated that relational and physical aggression tended to increase as language scores decreased. When the alternative form of aggression was held constant, girls' expressive language skills predicted relational aggression more than boys', and receptive language skills predicted physical aggression more than relational aggression, especially for boys. Classroom variables predicted relational aggression more than physical aggression. Results suggest that receptive and expressive language are important in predicting form and level of aggression. Implications for early identification of girls at risk for problem behavior in the preschool years are discussed.     

关系攻击研究的回顾与展望

关系攻击是指意图通过操纵关系来伤害他人的行为。关系攻击与间接攻击和社会攻击的概念较为相似而又有一定的差异。社会信息加工模型在一定程度上解释了关系攻击的认知加工过程,而性别关联整合模型为理解童年早中期的关系攻击提供了新的理论框架。关系攻击主要的测量方法包括社会测量法、教师和家长评定、自我报告以及行为观察。性别差异、发展轨迹和稳定性、以及与社会适应的关系是关系攻击研究中较为关注的几个问题,而最近关系攻击的干预研究也呈现出发展的态势。未来的研究还需关注关系攻击的方法论问题、重点探讨关系攻击的认知加工过程和干预研究,并进一步拓展关系攻击的研究范围。     

关系攻击:一种无形的校园暴力

校园暴力是一个跨国别的全球现象,是贯穿不同年龄阶段同时又凸显某年龄阶段特征的心理现象,是超性别又在一定程度上体现性别倾向性的社会现象。关系攻击(relational aggression)作为校园暴力中的一种现象、类型,不仅共享了以上特征,还具有女性倾向性、隐秘性、难以识别等特异性特点。关系攻击不仅与攻击者的自身因素相关,家庭、社会-文化因素也参与其中。其后果不仅影响关系攻击受害者的学习、社会-心理适应问题,关系攻击的施行者也会面临一定的社会问题。创设良好的教育环境、对教师和家长进行相关的教育培训、专家干预以及经验共享和角色扮演等是应对、干预关系攻击的可能途径。     

关注幼儿的关系攻击行为

关系攻击行为是一种基于关系的伤害行为,虽然在幼儿期就已有所表现,但容易被教师、家长忽视.关系攻击行为会导致攻击幼儿和受攻击幼儿产生一系列社会-心理适应问题.对幼儿关系攻击行为的干预可从认知、情绪、行为三方面来进行.有效的干预有利于营造安全的社交氛围,促进幼儿的健康发展.     

Do Relational Risks and Protective Factors Moderate the Linkages between Childhood Aggression and Early Psychological and School Adjustment?

This investigation addressed the question of how relational stressors and supports interface with a known behavioral risk (aggression) to influence early emerging adjustment trajectories. Children's risk for aggression, as well as multiple relational risk and protective factors (i.e., stressful and supportive features of peer and teacher relationships), were assessed in a sample of 396 children and used to predict changes in psychological functioning and school adjustment from the fall of their kindergarten year to the spring of their first-grade year. Results were largely consistent with additive risk-maladjustment models; with few exceptions, relational experiences predicted adjustment beyond children's aggressive risk status. For some adjustment criteria, however, there was evidence to suggest that relational stressors or supports exacerbated or compensated for dysfunctions that were linked with aggressive behavior. Moreover, compared with early onset, the chronicity of children's aggressive risk status and relational stressors and supports bore a stronger association with changes in maladjustment. Analyses conducted by ethnic groups suggested that African American children, who were typically a minority among their European American classmates, were more likely to experience particular stressors (e.g., chronic peer rejection), and were less likely to be afforded some form of support (e.g., stable teacher-child closeness). However, the nature of the predictive linkages found between the relational risk and protective factors and later maladjustment did not differ substantially by SES or ethnicity. The importance of investigating behavioral risks in conjunction with the relational features of children's interpersonal environments is discussed.     

Relational Aggression and Academic Performance in Elementary School

To investigate the relationship between relational aggression and school performance, this study examined the relative and combined associations among relational aggression, overt aggression, and victimization and children's academic performance. Additionally this study examined the relative associations among relational and overt aggression and verbal and performance IQ. Participants in this study were a subset of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. The study included 1,067 children (50% male) assessed during fourth and fifth grade. Results indicated that for girls, relational aggression was negatively associated with school performance, while statistically controlling for both victimization and overt aggression. For boys, overt aggression was negatively related with school performance. Additional results indicated that for both girls and boys, victimization was negatively associated with school performance.     

Preschoolers' Relational Aggression with Siblings and with Friends

As part of a longitudinal study examining sibling and friend relationships in early and middle childhood, relational aggression by 4-year-olds and their interaction partners in semi-structured free play sessions with siblings and friends was examined during sibling sessions involving both same-gender and mixed-gender sibling pairs. Identifiable acts of relational aggression occurred during many of the interactions observed, but there was also a wide range in the amount of relational aggression produced. Both boys and girls used relational aggression with their siblings much more than they did with their friends. Although boys' and girls' relationally aggressive behaviors occurred at similar rates, the form and function of their relational aggression varied depending on the age and gender of their sibling.     

女童关系攻击行为及其干预

攻击行为因其伤害性和破坏性受到人们的关注.传统意义上,人们普遍认为攻击行为是一种专属男性的行为,随着攻击研究的深入,人们发现女孩的攻击行为有着与男性不同的表现形式,与身体攻击相比,女孩更偏爱关系攻击.文章从关系攻击行为的表现形式、影响因素及其干预措施三个方面,探讨了女童攻击行为,以促进幼儿的健康发展.     

儿童关系攻击行为研究综述

关系攻击是指故意操纵或破坏他人同伴关系的一种伤害性行为,它比身体攻击和言语攻击更加间接和隐蔽,不容易被教师和家长发现,但对儿童的心理-社会适应有长期的负面影响.然而,有关学前儿童关系攻击行为发生原因、发展过程、影响因素的研究却刚刚起步.本文对相关研究的结果进行了梳理,探讨当前对儿童关系攻击行为的研究方法及研究的未来发展方向.     

The Relationship Between Relational Aggression in Kindergarten Children and Friendship Stability, Mutuality, and Peer Liking

The current study examined relational aggression in kindergarten children and how it relates to aspects of their friendships over a 2-month period. Participants were 74 boys and girls (ages 5 and 6). Teacher report and peer nominations assessed relational and physical aggression. Children also rated each child in their class on liking and identified their friends. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that peer nominations of relational aggression were negatively related to Time 1 liking, Time 1 number of mutual friends, and friendship stability even when teacher ratings of physical aggression were controlled. Physical aggression was also significantly related to these variables. Relational aggression (but not physical aggression) significantly predicted declines in the number of mutual friendships and liking two months later.     

Developmental Precursors of Relational Aggression From Late Childhood Through Adolescence

Relational aggression—a psychological form of aggression—has numerous negative consequences for physical and emotional health. However, little is known about the risk factors that lead youth to engage in relational aggression. Using multimethod data from a longitudinal research of 674 Mexican-origin youth, this study examined the influence of parents, siblings, and peers on the development of relational aggression. Increases in relational aggression from age 10 to 16 were associated with: (a) low levels of parental monitoring and (b) increased association with deviant peers and siblings. These results held across gender and nativity status. The findings suggest that multiple socialization agents contribute to the development of relational aggression. We discuss the practical implications for reducing relational aggression during adolescence.     

Preadolescent Peer Status, Aggression, and School Adjustment as Predictors of Externalizing Problems in Adolescence

The comparative effectiveness of preadolescent aggressive behavior, peer rejection, and school functioning were evaluated in the prediction of adolescent delinquency and school maladjustment. Fifth-grade children (n = 112, 69% white, 53% male, M = 11 years old) were followed forward for 7 years until the end of high school. Rejected children were more likely to have a nonspecific negative outcome and more types of negative outcomes than average, popular, or neglected children, particularly among the white students. However, in regression models containing sex, race, aggression, frequent school absences, low grades, and rejection, the only significant predictor of juvenile delinquency or of a nonspecific negative outcome was aggression toward peers. Both aggression and frequent school absences were significant predictors of early school withdrawal. Analyses for the white children in the sample revealed that both rejection and aggression best predicted to the nonspecific negative outcome, whereas aggression alone best predicted to school dropout and to having one or more police contacts. Implications for future longitudinal outcome research and for risk-group identification in racially heterogeneous samples are discussed.     

Effects of Relational Authenticity on Adjustment to College

The authors examined the association between relational health and student adjustment to college. Data were collected from 138 undergraduate students completing their 1st semester at a large university in the mid‐southern United States. Regression analysis indicated that higher levels of relational authenticity were a predictor of success during the 1st semester; no significant findings were detected for relationships between relational empowerment and engagement constructs and adjustment. Suggestions for promoting relational development are provided.     

Relational and Physical Aggression of Preschool-Age Children: Peer Status Linkages Across Informants

Little is known concerning how subtypes of aggression (relational and physical) might be differentially related to preschool-age children's classification in peer sociometric status groups (popular, average, rejected, neglected, and controversial). Furthermore, associations between aggression and sociometric status might vary according to the assessment tools utilized (e.g., peer report vs. teacher report). In this study, relational and physical aggression as well as sociable behavior of preschool-age children was assessed using peer reports and teacher reports. Peer nominations of acceptance and rejection (like and dislike nominations) were also collected and used to form sociometric status groups. Findings indicate that the behavioral differences between sociometric status group categories, obtained with older samples in previous research, is already evident as early as preschool. Furthermore, relational aggression is associated with controversial sociometric status in this age group (based on peer reports). These findings complement an emerging body of research indicating that the practice of relational aggression may be associated with greater peer status for some children.