Differential Associations Between Relational and Overt Aggression and Children’s Psychosocial Adjustment

Although much research has focused on the association between childhood aggression and negative psychosocial adjustment, the
link between the subtypes of aggression and adjustment is less clear, particularly for relational aggression. The current
study examined whether overt and relational aggression in childhood (M = 10.4 years, SD = 1.1) are differentially associated with four psychosocial adjustment outcomes (i.e., academic performance, social problems,
depression, and delinquency). Results indicated that relational aggression was negatively associated with academic performance,
while overt aggression was positively associated with delinquency. Additionally, findings suggested gender differences in
the link between aggression subtypes and social problems. Specifically, overt aggression was positively associated with social
problems for boys and relational aggression was positively associated with social problems for girls. Neither subtype of aggression
was uniquely associated with depression. Thus, this study suggests that psychosocial outcomes may differ depending on the
form of aggression that is utilized.