NCJ Number
222123
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2008 Pages: 251-265
Date Published
March 2008
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined how a variety of psychosocial risk factors relate to relational aggression and relational victimization within young adults' romantic relationships
Abstract
Results suggest that young adults who were low on both aggression and victimization tended to have the lowest levels of risky beliefs, traits, relationship tendencies, and mental health problems. Conversely, youth who were high on both perpetration and victimization tended to have the most frequent risky correlates. Aggression within romantic relationships is multifaceted and youth may be at risk within their romantic relationships without necessarily being involved in a physically aggressive relationship. Relational aggression and victimization in romantic relationships have similar correlates to relational aggression in other contexts. Specific ways of thinking about relational aggression were found in youth who reported higher levels of relational aggressive behaviors. Individuals in the low aggressive/low victim category consistently have the lowest level of risk across almost all factors. Many of the effects noted were primarily driven by aggression. That is, high levels of aggression were associated with an increase in risk factors, versus high levels of victimization. The present results can be used to inform prevention and intervention efforts in several ways: first, given that some degree of involvement in relational aggression was informative, it could be useful to include examples of relational aggression in general violence awareness sessions targeting adolescents and young adults. Second, when secondary schools and institutions of higher education involve students in universal violence prevention programs, relational aggression should be included in these programs. Since some youth who may already have an identifiable concern such as problems with anxiety, depression, or with emotion regulation, also may be at increased risk for relational aggression in their romantic relationships, practitioners who are managing care may wish to address potential concerns with relational aggression in their romantic relationships as well. The sample included 479 adults; 366 were female, and 113 were male between 18 and 25 years old. Tables, references