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Peer-Directed Aggression in Mutual Friendships: Impact on Quality

This study explores the relationship between peer-directed aggression and friendship quality among 5th to 10th graders with a focus on reciprocated best friendships. Results suggest peer aggression can impact closeness and conflict in friendships, with relational aggression influencing closeness.

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Peer-Directed Aggression in Mutual Friendships: Impact on Quality

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  1. Aggression in the Context of Mutual Best Friendships Todd D. Little Yale University (Now at University of Kansas) Lothar Krappmann Max Planck Institute for Human Development

  2. Overview and Goal • The peer aggression literature has focused very little attention on peer-directed aggression in the context of mutual best friends • We address the basic question: What, if any, are the associations between peer-directed aggression and friendship quality?

  3. Method • Participants • 1,723 5th to 10th graders • 1846 Reciprocated Best-Friend Nominations • 1358 "Old" Friends (> 1 Year) • 488 New Friends (< 1 Year) • Friendship Interview • Name your three very best friends • Friendship Quality is Rated • Do you argue with this friend? • Do you share secrets with this friend? • Peer-Directed Aggression is Rated • Does this friend hit or push others? • Does this friend spread rumors and gossip about others? • Self-Reported Aggression and Well-being

  4. Overt (Dispositional) Relational (Dispositional) Overt: Instrumental Overt: Reactive Relational: Instrumental Relational: Reactive Instru-mental Reactive Aggression Constructs Note. All constructs are measured by multiple indicators except for the higher-order constructs of Instrumental and Reactive aggression. From Little, Jones et al., 2002

  5. Sample Items • Overt Aggression: Dispositional (6 items) • I’m the kind of person who hits, kicks, or pushes others • Overt Aggression: Instrumental (6 items) • I hit, kick, or push others to get what I want • Overt Aggression: Reactive (6 items) • I hit, kick, or push others when I have been hurt by them • Relational Aggression: Dispositional (6 items) • I’m the kind of person who spreads rumors and gossips about others • Relational Aggression: Instrumental (6 items) • To get what I want, I spread rumors and gossip about others • Relational Aggression: Reactive (6 items) • When I have been hurt by someone, I spread rumors or gossip about him/her.

  6. Partial Correlations: Aggression / Friendship Quality New Friends Old Friends Close- Con- ness flict Close- Con- ness flict Partial Correlations: controlling for self-reported overt, relational, instrumental, and reactive aggression. -- indicates non-significance.

  7. Partial Correlations: Aggression / Well Being New Friends Old Friends Conn- Lonli- ected ness Conn- Lonli ected ness Partial Correlations: controlling for self-reported overt, relational, instrumental, and reactive aggression. -- indicates non-significance.

  8. Discussion • Peer-directed aggression is consistently associated with friendship quality: Closeness undermined and Conflict exaserbated • In established friendships, peer-directed relational aggression appears to enhance friendship closeness

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