Femininity and Depression Mediated by Social and Relational Aggression in Late Adolescence

• NCJ Number: 231441
• Journal: Journal of School Violence Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2010 Pages: 289-302
• Author(s): Jered B. Kolbert; Julaine E. Field; Laura M. Crothers; James B. Schreiber
• Date Published: July 2010
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the relation between relational aggression and sex role type in late adolescent females.

Abstract

Although studies have found a relation between the use of relational aggression and depressive symptomatology, there is less evidence for the relation of the role of gender identity in these processes. Consequently, this study investigated the roles of social and relational aggression and feminine gender role identity in depressive symptoms among late adolescent females. For this study, authors designed and tested a model through path analysis, which involved the variables of femininity, relational aggression, and social aggression. Six hundred and ninety-seven female college students completed the Beck Depression InventorySecond Edition, the Young Adult Social Behavior Scale, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Results indicated that although femininity is unrelated to relational and social aggression, the use of social and relational aggression by more feminine late adolescent females relates to higher levels of depression in this sample. Figure, tables, and references (Published Abstract)