Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Schmeelk, Kelly Marie
Author's Email Address	schmeelk@psy.fsu.edu
URN	etd-04062007-165330
Title	Childhood Relational Aggression: A Female Variant of Overt Aggression?
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Psychology, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Bryan Loney, Ph.D. Committee Member Colleen Kelley, Ph.D. Committee Member Joyce Carbonell, Ph.D. Committee Member
Keywords	Gender Differences Relational Aggression Children
Date of Defense	2007-03-26
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The construct of relational aggression in children remains poorly delineated with regards to prevalence, associated impairment and gender differences therein. Some have suggested that relational aggression may be a female variant of overt aggression, however direct tests of this hypothesis are scarce. This study investigated the prevalence of relational aggression across boys and girls and the predictive utility of relational aggression for concurrent impairment (e.g., hyperactivity/impulsivity, parenting dysfunction and social skills deficits) in an elementary-aged sample (N=97). Results indicated that relational aggression existed in similar levels across gender. Furthermore, relational aggression did not uniquely predict impairment when controlling for overt aggression. These findings suggest that relational aggression is not a female variant of overt aggression, insofar as it is not associated uniquely to similar impairment. Future study on relational aggression as a construct distinct from overt aggression, with a unique profile of impairment correlates, is warranted.
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