The Broader Context of Relational Aggression in Adolescent Romantic Relationships Megan M. Schad, David E. Szwedo, Amanda Hare, Jill Antonishak, Joseph P. Allen University of Virginia We would like to thank the National Institute of

1
The Broader Context of Relational Aggression in
Adolescent Romantic RelationshipsMegan M. Schad,
David E. Szwedo, Amanda Hare, Jill Antonishak,
Joseph P. AllenUniversity of Virginia
We would like to thank the National
Institute of Mental Health for funding awarded to
Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator,
(R01-MH58066) for the conduct and write-up of
this study.
Measures Autonomy and Relatedness
Observational Paradigm Each adolescent-best
friend dyad participated in an 8-min videotaped
task in which they were presented with a
hypothetical dilemma. They were then asked to
try to resolve any differences in their choices
and to come up with a consensus. The
Autonomy-Relatedness Coding System for Peer
Interactions was used to code these interactions
(Allen et al. 2001). The coding system employed
(J. P. Allen et al. 2000, unpublished manuscript,
1994) yields ratings for the adolescents overall
behavior toward their best friend in the
interaction, as well as for their best friends
overall behavior toward them. The undermining
autonomy scale was used, which captures behaviors
that make it more difficult for individuals to
express autonomy in a discussion, such as by
over-personalizing a disagreement or pressuring
another person to agree other than by making
rational arguments. High scores on this scale
indicate increased frequency and intensity of
behaviors inhibiting autonomy, whereas low scores
mean very few and low intensity behaviors
inhibiting autonomy. Romantic Relational
Aggression Scale The romantic relational
aggression scale was comprised of five items and
measured the reporters aggression towards their
romantic partner whereas the 5-item victimization
scale measured relational victimization
experienced by the reporter (Morales and Crick
unpublished measure). Each item was rated on a
7-point scale (1 never, 7 always) with higher
scores indicating higher levels of relational
aggression and victimization. Both relational
aggression and victimization scales have shown
relatively good internal consistency (a .76, a
.84, respectively for teens a .58, a .86,
respectively for romantic partners). Beck
Depression Inventory Target adolescents
completed the Beck Depression Inventory, a
21-item measure indicating their current level of
depressive symptoms (Beck et al. 1979 Beck and
Steer 1987). Each item is rated on a four-point
scale (03), with higher scores indicating
greater severity of symptoms. This measure
demonstrated high internal consistency in the
present study (a .83). Monitoring the Future
Survey Teens completed a 36-item measure about
their alcohol use. This measure was adapted from
the Alcohol and Drug Use Questionnaire used in
the Monitoring the Future surveys (Johnston et
al. 1987, 2006). Alcohol use was assessed by
asking teens to report about the average number
of alcoholic drinks they typically consume per
week.
Introduction
also demonstrated that teens with a best friend
who exhibited behaviors undermining autonomy
toward the teen during early adolescence were
more likely to be in a relationship with a
partner who reported feeling victimized by
relational aggression (see Table 1).
Furthermore, as Table 2 suggests, teens
perpetration of relational aggression is
significantly associated with higher levels of
depression and alcohol use.

• Background
• Although relational aggression and victimization
  have been studied extensively in the peer
  context, little research exists exploring these
  constructs in adolescent romantic relationships
  (e.g. Crick Grotpeter, 1995, 1996 Prinstein,
  Boergers, Vernberg, 2001 Sullivan, Farrell,
  Kliewer, 2006 Werner Crick, 1999 ). Similarly,
  there is considerable evidence that peer
  relational aggression is associated with
  increased internalizing and externalizing
  behaviors, including increased alcohol use and
  depression (Santor, Messervey, Kusumakar, 2000
  Sullivan, 2006), but almost no research
  addressing such links from relational aggression
  within romantic relationships. To address this
  lack of research, this study uses longitudinal,
  multi-reporter data to examine relational
  aggression in adolescent romantic relationships
  and its effects on psychosocial adjustment.
  Thus, the purpose of the present study is to
  consider possible links between peer pressure,
  romantic relational aggression and victimization,
  and psychosocial functioning. Specifically the
  following questions will be addressed
• Research Questions
• Does peer pressure from best friends predict
  increases in teens perpetrated romantic
  relational aggression and subsequent partner
  victimization?
• Are teens perpetration or victimization of
  relational aggression associated with increased
  levels of depression and alcohol use?

Table 1. Regression Analysis predicting Teen
Report of Relational Aggression Romantic
Partner Victimization in Late Adolescence
Teen Aggression
Romantic Partner Victimization ß entry
ß final ß
entry ß final Step 1. Gender
.05 .06
.08 .07 Minority
.31 .30
.25
.25 Step 2. Best Friends Undermining Autonomy
.30
.30 .25
.25 R2 from Step 1

.10
.07 ?R2



.09
.06 Final R2


.19

.13 __________________________________
__________________________________________________
_____________________________ Table 2.
Regression Analysis predicting Concurrent
Internalizing Externalizing Behaviors from Teen
Report of Relational Aggression
Alcohol Use
Depressive Symptoms ß entry
ß final ß entry
ß final Step 1. Gender -.39
-.39
.06 .04 Minority
-.39
.47 -.02
-.18 Step 2. Best Friends
Undermining Autonomy .12
.07 -.21
-.25 Step 3. Teen
Relational Aggression .22
.22 .37
.37 R2 from Step 1.

.31
.00 ?R2

.01
.05 R2 from Step 2

.32
.05 ?R2


.05
.10 Final R2


.37
.15 ___________________________
__________________________________________________
____________________________________ p lt .10 p
lt .05 p lt .01 p lt .001


Method

• Participants
• 95 teenagers along with their best friends and
  romantic partners
• 53 Caucasian, 33 African American, and 14
  Mixed or Other ethnicity
• Average household income was within the 30,000
  to 39,000 range
• Mean age was 15.19 years at Time 1 and 18.3 years
  at Time 2
• Procedure
• Time 1 Best friends peer pressure was measured
  using observational data which were coded for
  undermining autonomy.
• Time 2 Teens relational aggression and romantic
  partners victimization were measured, as well as
  teens alcohol use and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions
These results suggest that peer pressure, which
is known to have serious negative effects within
friendships, has similar effects that extend to
romantic relationships. This could be because
the teen learns from their best friend how to be
relationally aggressive, which carries over into
romantic relationships. The results also show
that this relational aggression has serious
psychosocial affects as well. It seems perhaps
that once in a poor relationship, the teen may be
experiencing more depressive symptoms and drinks
as a coping mechanism. There are other possible
explanations for these negative associations, and
further research which is able to illustrate
causal links is needed.
Results
Results suggest that teens with a best friend who
exhibits higher levels of behaviors undermining
autonomy at age 15 report greater perpetration of
relational aggression in their future romantic
relationships after accounting for teens gender
and racial/ethnic minority status (see Table 1).
Corroborating this finding, it was