Peer Rejection And Adolescent Relational Aggression: A Cross-lagged Stud

The need for interpersonal communication is at its peak for junior high school pupils who are in their adolescent years.When the interpersonal need was not met,many maladaptive behaviors were frequently displayed,such as relational aggression.Due to its hidden and challenging to recognize characteristics,relational aggression gradually increases in the interpersonal communication process of junior high school students.Relational aggression is a way for people to hurt others by excluding,spreading rumors,and manipulating relationships.Studies have found that peer rejection is an important predictor of relational aggression,but the internal mechanism and pattern of peer rejection on relational aggression are still unclear.Based on the perspective of the general aggression model,this study investigated the effects of peer rejection on relational aggression and the chain mediating effects of trait anger and normative beliefs about aggression through cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.Study 1 was based on a cross-sectional study with 725 first-and second-year students who were asked to complete the Peer Nomination,Trait Anger,Normative Beliefs About Aggression,and Relational Aggression scales to explore the internal mechanisms of trait anger and normative beliefs about aggression between peer rejection and relational aggression by constructing structural equation models.The results showed that:(1)Peer rejection positively predicted relational aggression;(2)Trait anger and normative beliefs about aggression not only play a separate mediating role between peer rejection and relational aggression,but also play a chain mediating role between peer rejection and relational aggression.Study 2 was based on a longitudinal study in which 446 middle school students were asked to complete surveys on the Peer Nomination,Trait Anger,Normative Beliefs About Aggression,and Relational Aggression scales at three different time points,and to explore the longitudinal chain mediating role of traits anger and normative belief about aggression between peer rejection and relational aggression and the interaction mechanism of peer rejection and relational aggression by constructing longitudinal structural equation models and cross-lagged models.The results showed that:(1)Peer rejection,trait anger,normative belief about aggression and relational aggression showed good stability at T1,T2 and T3;(2)T1 peer rejection can significantly predict T3 relational aggression longitudinally;(3)The longitudinal chain mediating effects of T2 trait anger and T3 normative belief about aggression on T1 peer rejection and T3 relational aggression were significant;(4)At T1 and T2,peer rejection and relational aggression were mutually predictive,but at T2 and T3,only peer rejection still significantly predicted relational aggression,and the predictive effect of relational aggression on peer rejection was no longer significant.Combining the results of the above two studies,it can be concluded that:(1)Trait anger and normative belief about aggression as individual personality traits and cognitive beliefs play an immediate and delayed mediating role between peer rejection and relational aggression.The applicability of the general aggression model in the association of peer rejection and relational aggression has once again been strongly demonstrated;(2)The association between peer rejection and relational aggression develops with time.Peer rejection is an important predictor of relational aggression,while relational aggression has an unstable predictive effect on peer rejection.Based on the above conclusions,educators should identify students who are rejected by peers as soon as possible,guide students to learn reasonable catharsis and expression of emotions,and establish correct beliefs about aggressive behavior,which has important practical significance for reducing the relational aggression of junior high school students.