TY - JOUR
T1 - Relational aggression and adverse psychosocial and physical health symptoms among urban adolescents
AU - Williams, Jessica Roberts
AU - Fredland, Nina
AU - Han, Hae Ra
AU - Campbell, Jacquelyn C.
AU - Kub, Joan E.
PY - 2009/11
Y1 - 2009/11
N2 - Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine relational aggression and its relationship with adverse psychosocial and physical health symptoms among urban, African American youth. Design and Sample: Quantitative, cross-sectional survey design.The sample consisted of 185 predominantly African American (95.1%) seventh-grade students (mean age: 13.0; female: 58%) attending 4 urban middle schools. Measures: The Children's Social Behavior Scale and Social Experience Questionnaire were used to measure relational aggression and relational victimization. The Pediatric Symptom Checklist was used to assess psychosocial difficulties, including internalizing behaviors, externalizing behaviors, and attention problems. Physical health symptoms were measured with questions about colds/flu, headaches, and stomach aches. Results: 2-way multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences in externalizing behavior, with perpetrators reporting higher levels than nonperpetrators. Victims reported more internalizing behavior than nonvictims; however, this was only significant for males. For females, significant negative effects on health outcomes were found, resulting from the interaction of perpetration and victimization. Conclusions: Findings suggest that relational aggression is a common occurrence among urban, minority adolescents and may result in adverse health outcomes. These results provide several avenues for future research and implications for healthcare practice. Intervention strategies are needed to prevent relational aggression and continual or subsequent adverse health symptoms.
AB - Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine relational aggression and its relationship with adverse psychosocial and physical health symptoms among urban, African American youth. Design and Sample: Quantitative, cross-sectional survey design.The sample consisted of 185 predominantly African American (95.1%) seventh-grade students (mean age: 13.0; female: 58%) attending 4 urban middle schools. Measures: The Children's Social Behavior Scale and Social Experience Questionnaire were used to measure relational aggression and relational victimization. The Pediatric Symptom Checklist was used to assess psychosocial difficulties, including internalizing behaviors, externalizing behaviors, and attention problems. Physical health symptoms were measured with questions about colds/flu, headaches, and stomach aches. Results: 2-way multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences in externalizing behavior, with perpetrators reporting higher levels than nonperpetrators. Victims reported more internalizing behavior than nonvictims; however, this was only significant for males. For females, significant negative effects on health outcomes were found, resulting from the interaction of perpetration and victimization. Conclusions: Findings suggest that relational aggression is a common occurrence among urban, minority adolescents and may result in adverse health outcomes. These results provide several avenues for future research and implications for healthcare practice. Intervention strategies are needed to prevent relational aggression and continual or subsequent adverse health symptoms.
KW - Adolescent health
KW - African Americans
KW - Mental health
KW - Violence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=75549087468&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=75549087468&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2009.00808.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2009.00808.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 19903269
AN - SCOPUS:75549087468
SN - 0737-1209
VL - 26
SP - 489
EP - 499
JO - Public Health Nursing
JF - Public Health Nursing
IS - 6
ER -