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Relational Aggression in Mothers and Children: Links with Psychological Control and Child Adjustment

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Abstract

This study assesses associations between mothers’ use of relational aggression with their peers and psychological control with their children, and child adjustment in a sample of fifty U.S. mothers of elementary and middle school children. Mothers completed surveys assessing their relational aggression and psychological control. Teachers completed surveys assessing children’s externalizing behavior, internalizing symptoms, and relational aggression. Results suggest that mothers who are relationally aggressive with their peers are more likely to be psychologically controlling with their children. Results also showed that relational aggression predicted adjustment problems in youth. Relational aggression was associated with externalizing problems among boys and girls, and with internalizing problems among boys. Few gender differences in mean levels of maternal or child behaviors emerged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70148, USA

    Tiffany J. Reed

  2. Department of Family and Child Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA

    Sara E. Goldstein

  3. Department of Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, Main Hall 2403, Tulsa, OK, 74106-0700, USA

    Amanda Sheffield Morris

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Angela W. Keyes

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  1. Tiffany J. Reed
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  2. Sara E. Goldstein
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  3. Amanda Sheffield Morris
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  4. Angela W. Keyes
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Correspondence to Sara E. Goldstein or Amanda Sheffield Morris.

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Reed, T.J., Goldstein, S.E., Morris, A.S. et al. Relational Aggression in Mothers and Children: Links with Psychological Control and Child Adjustment. Sex Roles 59, 39–48 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9423-5

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