Relational Aggression at School: Associations with School Safety and Social Climate

The present study examines how exposure to relational aggression at school is associated with adolescents’ perceptions of, and participation in, a hostile school environment. Participants were 1,335 African American and European American adolescents in grades 7 through 12 (52% female, 49% African American). Results indicate that exposure to relational aggression is associated with several components of adolescents’ perceptions of the school climate. Adolescents exposed to high levels of relational aggression perceived their school to be less safe, and were less pleased with the general social atmosphere at school. Moreover, for males, but not females, exposure to relational aggression was associated with carrying a weapon to school. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed in terms of working toward safer school environments for adolescents.

Sara E. GoldsteinEmail:

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Sara Goldstein   is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Child Studies at Montclair State University. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Bowling Green State University. Her major research interests include peer relationships, aggression, and gender. Amy Young   is an Assistant Research Scientist at the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Michigan. Major research interests include gender, sexual assault, substance use, and developmental psychopathology. Carol Boyd   is a Professor of Nursing and a Professor of Women’s Studies and is Director of the Institute for Research on women and Gender at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She received her PhD, in Nursing (cognate Anthropology). Her major research interests include gender and substance abuse.