Relational and Physical Victimization and Aggression Trajectories in Adolescence

Adolescent peer aggression is a prevalent concern consisting of subtypes (relational, physical) separable with respect to prevalence, correlates, and predictions of negative outcomes. However, it is unclear whether relational vs. physical victimization uniquely predicts patterns of aggression perpetration. Based on 10,837 adolescents, we tested relational and physical victimization as unique predictors of relational and physical aggression perpetration two years later. Controlling for key covariates, relational victimization uniquely predicted future relational aggression perpetration. Relational victimization was unrelated to future physical aggression perpetration; similarly, physical victimization was unrelated to future relational and physical aggression perpetration. Results validate the separability of aggression subtypes and future research must identify causal mechanisms mediating these relationships to accelerate innovations in development of intervention and prevention strategies.