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Moderators of the association between relational aggression and perceived popularity
Marissa B Puckett1, Julie Wargo Aikins, Antonius H N Cillessen
1Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-1020, USA. marissa.puckett@uconn.edu
Aggressive Behavior
|September 4, 2008
Summary
Relational aggression is linked to higher peer status, especially when adolescents possess social self-efficacy and prosocial traits. These factors, along with popularity, influence each other over time.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Adolescent Behavior
Background:
- Relational aggression is a key social behavior in adolescence.
- Understanding factors influencing peer status is crucial for adolescent development.
- The interplay between aggression, social skills, and status requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if social self-efficacy, leadership, cooperation, and peer sociability moderate the association between relational aggression and peer status.
- To investigate the reciprocal relationship between relational aggression and perceived popularity.
- To explore reciprocal effects between social self-efficacy, leadership, cooperation, peer sociability, and perceived popularity.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with two waves of data collection over 12 months.
- Involved 540 adolescents aged 13-15 (Grades 7 and 8).
- Data gathered from self-reports, peer nominations, and teacher assessments.
Main Results:
- Adolescents exhibiting relational aggression and high social self-efficacy, leadership, cooperation, and peer sociability achieved higher status.
- Relational aggression and perceived popularity demonstrated a reciprocal influence.
- Social self-efficacy, leadership, cooperation, and peer sociability also reciprocally influenced perceived popularity.
Conclusions:
- Prosocial behaviors and self-efficacy can enhance the status of relationally aggressive adolescents.
- Relational aggression and perceived popularity have a dynamic, bidirectional relationship.
- Social competencies and popularity are interconnected and mutually influential in adolescent peer groups.
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