Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 1, 2026
07:15
Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
2.3K
Patterns of adolescent aggression and victimization: Sex differences and correlates
H Luz McNaughton Reyes1, Vangie A Foshee1, May Chen1
1Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma
|December 25, 2019
Summary
This study found distinct patterns of peer and dating aggression for adolescent girls and boys, with unique risk and protective factors influencing these behaviors. Violence pathways differ by sex, leading to varied involvement in aggression and victimization.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Peer and dating aggression are significant issues among adolescents.
- Understanding sex-based differences in violence involvement is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify heterogeneous patterns of peer and dating aggression and victimization in adolescent boys and girls.
- To examine the relationship between these patterns and risk/protective factors.
- To explore sex differences in violence involvement patterns.
Main Methods:
- Latent class analysis of survey data from 1648 girls and 1420 boys in grades 8-10.
- Assessment of 14 indicators of violence involvement.
- Testing for measurement invariance across sexes.
Main Results:
- Four distinct classes of violence involvement were identified, with patterns differing by sex.
- Common classes included 'Uninvolved', 'Peer Aggressor-Victims', and 'Cross-Context Aggressor-Victims'.
- Sex-specific classes emerged: 'Verbal Dating Aggressor-Victims' for girls and 'Cross-Context Physical Victims' for boys.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent violence involvement exhibits heterogeneous, sex-differentiated patterns.
- Risk and protective factors uniquely and sharedly distinguish class membership for boys and girls.
- Intervention strategies should consider sex-specific pathways and manifestations of violence.
Related Concept Videos
02:04Bullying
8.7K
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
8.7K
01:28Conduct Disorder
424
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
424
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
194
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
194
01:47Aggression
30.0K
Humans engage in aggression when they seek to cause harm or pain to another person. Aggression takes two forms depending on one’s motives: hostile or instrumental. Hostile aggression is motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain; a fight in a bar with a stranger is an example of hostile aggression. In contrast, instrumental aggression is motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993); a contract killer who murders for...
30.0K
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
232
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
232
01:21Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation
626
Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...
626