The impact of peer victimization experiences across elementary, middle, and high school on the development of adolescents' reactive aggression: the moderating role of autonomic nervous system reactivity
Date
2021
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The overarching goal of the current study was to investigate vulnerability for reactive aggression among chronically victimized adolescents. To do so, we tested a stress-diathesis model of risk, with three primary aims: 1) to determine the impact of chronic peer victimization on adolescent reactive aggression, 2) to investigate whether heightened autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity creates vulnerability for reactive aggression across the two construct-relevant tasks of peer rejection and non-social frustration, and 3) to assess whether ANS reactivity (diathesis) exacerbates the impact of chronic peer victimization (stress) on adolescent reactive aggression. We collected longitudinal data at four time points (elementary school: Time 1 [T1], Time 2 [T2]; middle school: Time 3 [T3]; high school: Time 4 [T4]; N at T4 = 145) to assess adolescents’ self-reported chronic peer victimization. We measured reactive aggression and ANS reactivity [sympathetic nervous system: pre-ejection period (PEP); parasympathetic nervous system: respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)] in response to peer rejection and non-social frustration at T4. Greater chronic peer victimization predicted higher levels of adolescent reactive aggression (Goal 1), as did SNS reactivity to non-social frustration (Goal 2). Analyses for Goal 3 indicated that greater chronic peer victimization predicted reactive aggression, but only for adolescents exhibiting RSA augmentation to peer rejection, suggesting that persistently victimized adolescents who are prone to reactive aggression may mount an over-compensating down-regulation response when they encounter peer rejection experiences over which they have no control. We discuss how these findings inform research, clinical, and intervention perspectives.
Description
Keywords
Adolescence, Aggression, Autonomic nervous system, Bullying, Peer victimization