Aggression, peer victimisation, and social relationships among Indian youth

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine peer aggression, victimisation, and social relationships in children and adolescents in semi-rural India. Aggression and victimisation were expected to be related to concurrent social problems such as peer rejection, perceived lack of social support, and perceived conflict in significant relationships. These findings were expected to be qualified by gender and developmental differences. Data were collected from 229 fourth-, sixth-, eighth-, and tenth-graders in a small semi-rural northwestern town in India. Aggressors and victims were more likely to be rejected than their nonaggressive nonvictimised peers. Victims and aggressors were more likely to report lack of social support but not more conflict from significant others than nonvictims. Gender differences were observed in that males were more likely to be aggressors or victims than females. No significant developmental differences emerged with regard to peer aggression and victimisation. Theoretical implications for both the cultural specificity and the universality of social and behavioural development are discussed.