Impact of the family context on the development of social aggression among rural youth

Social aggression damages interpersonal relationships through behaviors such as gossiping and social alienation. Despite its serious consequences for both perpetrators and victims, little is known about how this form of non-physical aggression develops during adolescence or what factors impact the perpetration of social aggression. Because this information is critical for the development of prevention interventions, we examined how the family context (including parent-child bonding, parental control and family conflict) influences developmental trajectories of social aggression perpetrated by rural youth. We used data from adolescents ages 11 to 18 from a 5-wave panel study. The sample (N=5118) was 50% female and 52% white, with an average age of 13 years at baseline. Multilevel growth curve models showed an increase in social aggression during adolescence that was followed by a decline after approximately age 14 for both boys and girls. For boys, less parent-child bonding, less parental control and more family conflict were associated with higher initial levels of social aggression. Family conflict also was associated with early peak ages of involvement in social aggression. For girls, less parent-child bonding was associated with higher initial levels of social aggression, and more family conflict was associated with both high initial levels and early peak ages of involvement in social aggression. Our results suggest that early prevention initiatives are needed and that family programs may help reduce the impact of social aggression in rural communities.