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Relational aggression and social-psychological adjustment in a college sample
1Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota 55455, USA. well0126@tc.umn.edu
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|December 28, 1999
Summary
Relational aggression in young adults is linked to peer rejection, antisocial traits, and borderline personality features. For women, it also correlates with bulimic symptoms, highlighting its impact on adjustment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Relational aggression research has primarily focused on children.
- Understanding relational aggression in young adults is crucial for addressing adjustment issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between relational aggression and social-psychological adjustment in young adults.
- To investigate gender differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- A peer-nomination instrument assessed relational aggression.
- Self-report measures collected adjustment data from 225 college students.
- Regression analyses were used to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- Relational aggression uniquely predicted peer rejection, prosocial behavior, antisocial personality features, and borderline personality features in young adults.
- Gender interactions revealed that relational aggression was associated with bulimic symptoms specifically in women.
Conclusions:
- Relational aggression is an important factor in understanding adjustment problems during young adulthood.
- Findings underscore the need to consider relational aggression in clinical and research contexts for this age group.