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 Mental Health for funding awarded to Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator, (R01-MH58066) for the conduct and write-up of this study. Introduction 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? 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 The coding system employed (J. P. Allen et al. 2000, unpublished manuscript, 1994) yields ratings for the adolescent’s overall behavior toward their best friend in the interaction, as well as for their best friend’s overall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 reporter’s 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 (α =.76, α =.84, respectively for teens; α =.58, α =.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 (0–3), with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms. This measure demonstrated high internal consistency in the present study (α =.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. Method Conclusions Results 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 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 teen’s alcohol use and depressive symptoms. Table 1. Regression Analysis predicting Teen Report of Relational Aggression & Romantic Partner Victimization in Late Adolescence Teen Aggression Romantic Partner Victimization β entry β final β entry β final Step 1. Gender Minority.31**.30.25*.25* Step 2. Best Friends’ Undermining Autonomy.30**.30**.25*.25* R 2 from Step 1.10**.07* ΔR 2.09**.06* Final R 2.19**.13** _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Table 2. Regression Analysis predicting Concurrent Internalizing & Externalizing Behaviors from Teen Report of Relational Aggression Alcohol Use Depressive Symptoms β entry β final β entry β final Step 1. Gender -.39*** -.39*** Minority -.39***.47*** Step 2. Best Friends’ Undermining Autonomy * Step 3. Teen Relational Aggression.22*.22*.37**.37** R 2 from Step 1..31***.00 ΔR R 2 from Step ΔR 2.05*.10** Final R 2.37***.15* _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ + p <.10* p <.05; ** p <.01; *** p <.001 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 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. 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.