College students' self-report of psychosocial factors in reactive forms of relational and physical aggression

Abstract

This cross-sectional self-report study examined reactive physical aggression and reactive relational aggression as they relate to psychological distress, social behavior, and relationship quality in college students. A total of 329, primarily freshman year, college students participated. Results revealed statistically significant gender differences in the two types of aggression, as well as significant correlations between relational and physical aggression and their relation to psychological, social, and relationship quality variables. Exclusivity was uniquely associated with more reactive relational aggression in females, whereas hostility and depression were uniquely associated with reactive physical aggression in males. These results offer support for unique social and psychological factors in females and males, associated with reactive relational and physical aggression, respectively.