Contextual influences on the relations between physical and relational aggression and peer victimization. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santo, Jonathan Bruce; Charlotte Bass, Ellyn; Stella-Lopez, Luz; Bukowski, William M.
• Is Part Of: School psychology international. Volume 38:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: classroom context -- gender ratio -- peer victimization -- physical aggression -- relational aggression; Educational psychology -- Periodicals; School psychology -- Periodicals; 370.1505
• DOI: 10.1177/0143034316678655
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-0343

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that several contextual factors influence the relationship between aggression and peer victimization in early adolescence, including gender of the same-sex peer group and gender composition of the school. The current study replicated and expanded on this research by examining the moderating influences of gender of the same-sex peer group, same-sex peer group norms, and classroom gender composition in a sample of early adolescents from Barranquilla, Colombia. Multilevel modeling analyses indicated that both relational and physical aggression were positive predictors of peer victimization. Relationally aggressive girls were at a lower risk for victimization while physically aggressive girls were at a higher risk. Relational aggression was a weaker predictor in classes with a larger proportion of girls. Additionally, relational aggression was a weaker predictor in same-sex peer groups with a greater prevalence of relational aggression. These findings provide further evidence of multiple forms of contextual influence on social behavior. Practical implications for these findings are also provided.