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. 2017 Apr:67:75-84.
doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2016.04.005. Epub 2016 Apr 22.

Bidirectional Pathways between Relational Aggression and Temperament from Late Childhood to Adolescence

Olivia E Atherton  1 , Jennifer L Tackett  2 , Emilio Ferrer  1 , Richard W Robins  1
Affiliations

Bidirectional Pathways between Relational Aggression and Temperament from Late Childhood to Adolescence

Olivia E Atherton et al. J Res Pers. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Relational aggression is linked to numerous adverse consequences. However, we know little about how temperament leads individuals to become perpetrators/victims of relational aggression, or how being a perpetrator/victim influences the development of temperament. We used longitudinal data from 674 Mexican-origin youth to examine relations between relational aggression and mother- and child-reported temperament from 5th grade (Mage=10.8; SD=0.60) through 11th grade (Mage=16.8; SD=0.50). Results show that: (a) high Negative Emotionality and low Effortful Control predicted increases in victimization; (b) low Effortful Control predicted increases in perpetration; (c) victims increased in Negative Emotionality and decreased in Effortful Control; and (d) perpetrators increased in Negative Emotionality and Surgency. Thus, temperament serves as both an antecedent to and a consequence of relational aggression.

Keywords: adolescence; childhood; longitudinal; personality; relational aggression; temperament.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual representation of cross-lagged regression model for temperament and relational aggression.
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