Personality and relational aggression: Moral disengagement and friendship quality as mediators. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kokkinos, Constantinos M.; Voulgaridou, Ioanna; Markos, Angelos
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 95(2016)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Relational aggression -- Callous-unemotional traits -- Behavioral activation system -- Moral disengagement -- Friendship quality -- Preadolescents; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.02.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: The present study tested mediation models of relational aggression integrating personality (callous-unemotional traits, behavioral activation system), self-regulatory cognitive processes (moral disengagement), and interpersonal factors (friendship quality) in a non-clinical sample of 276 Greek preadolescents. Relational aggression was positively associated with callous-unemotional traits, behavioral activation system, moral disengagement and negative friendship quality (i.e. conflict and betrayal). Moral disengagement mediated the effects of callous-unemotional traits and behavioral activation system on relational aggression. Furthermore, friendship conflict mediated the link between callous-unemotional traits and relational aggression, while positive friendship the association between behavioral activation and relational aggression. The findings confirm previous research and are discussed in terms of their implications. Highlights: The link between personality and relational aggression was explored among preadolescents Relational aggression was associated with all variables under study Moral disengagement mediated callous-unemotional traits, behavioral activation system, and relational aggression links Friendship conflict mediated the link between callous-unemotional traits and relational aggression Positive friendship traits mediated the link between behavioral activation system and relational aggression