This longitudinal investigation will examine developmental precursors and outcomes of engaging in and being the victim of social and physical aggression. Whereas physical aggression inflicts or threatens bodily harm, social aggression hurts others by damaging their friendships, peer relations, or social status. Social aggression includes behaviors such as social exclusion, friendship manipulation, malicious gossip, and non-verbal efforts at alienation and manipulation. Preliminary studies have established that social aggression hurts children and is related to psychosocial maladjustment, but longitudinal research is needed to explore precursors, stability, and sequelae of perpetrating and being victimized by social and physical aggression. This study will follow a normal sample of 300 children from ages 9 - 14, a developmental period in which social aggression has been shown to become more frequent and intense. This investigation will examine how frequently children engage in and experience these behaviors and explore whether and when gender differences emerge, using multiple methods to measure social aggression (observations and telephone interviews, as well as peer nominations and teacher and parent reports). This study will explore factors that may contribute to individual differences in engaging in and being victimized by social and physical aggression: family, peer group, and school factors. This research will investigate developmental outcomes associated with engaging in and being the victim of social and physical aggression: qualities of peer and romantic relationships, self-concept, academic progress, identity formation, externalizing symptoms, internalizing symptoms, personality difficulties, and eating disorder symptoms. This study will explore developmental precursors of adolescent psychopathology for both girls and boys, with the long-term goal of determining whether reducing social aggression might be helpful in preventing externalizing symptoms, internalizing problems, personality disorders, and eating disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01MH063076-01A2
Application #
6572195
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior Integrated Review Group (RPHB)
Program Officer
Price, Leshawndra N
Project Start
2002-09-25
Project End
2007-06-30
Budget Start
2002-09-25
Budget End
2003-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$367,600
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas-Dallas
Department
Psychology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
City
Richardson
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75080
Ackerman, Robert A; Carson, Kevin J; Corretti, Conrad A et al. (2018) Experiences with warmth in middle childhood predict features of text-message communication in early adolescence. Dev Psychol :
Rosen, Lisa H; Beron, Kurt J; Underwood, Marion K (2017) Social Victimization Trajectories From Middle Childhood Through Late Adolescence. Soc Dev 26:227-247
Ehrenreich, Samuel E; Beron, Kurt J; Underwood, Marion K (2016) Social and physical aggression trajectories from childhood through late adolescence: Predictors of psychosocial maladjustment at age 18. Dev Psychol 52:457-62
Flynn, Elinor; Ehrenreich, Samuel E; Beron, Kurt J et al. (2015) Prosocial Behavior: Long-Term Trajectories and Psychosocial Outcomes. Soc Dev 24:462-482
Underwood, Marion K; Ehrenreich, Samuel E; More, David et al. (2015) The BlackBerry Project: The Hidden World of Adolescents' Text Messaging and Relations With Internalizing Symptoms. J Res Adolesc 25:101-117
Underwood, Marion K; Ehrenreich, Samuel E (2014) Bullying May Be Fueled by the Desperate Need to Belong. Theory Pract 53:265-270
Ehrenreich, Samuel E; Underwood, Marion K; Ackerman, Robert A (2014) Adolescents' text message communication and growth in antisocial behavior across the first year of high school. J Abnorm Child Psychol 42:251-64
Ehrenreich, Samuel E; Beron, Kurt J; Brinkley, Dawn Y et al. (2014) Family predictors of continuity and change in social and physical aggression from ages 9 to 18. Aggress Behav 40:421-39
Rosen, Lisa H; Beron, Kurt J; Underwood, Marion K (2013) Assessing peer victimization across adolescence: measurement invariance and developmental change. Psychol Assess 25:1-11
Rosen, Lisa H; Underwood, Marion K; Gentsch, Joanna K et al. (2012) Adult Recollections of Peer Victimization during Middle School: Forms and Consequences. J Appl Dev Psychol 33:273-281

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