A psychosocial analysis of relational aggression in Mexican adolescents based on sex and age.

BACKGROUND: This paper aims to identify predictive variables of relational aggression related to the individual, family and school environment in Mexican adolescents according to sex and age.

METHOD: A total of 8,115 Mexican adolescents (51.5% boys), aged 11 to 16 years old (M = 13.34 years, SD = 1.040), selected by proportional stratified sampling.

RESULTS: From a stepwise regression analysis it was observed that the main predictors of relational aggression were non-conformist self-perception of social reputation, psychological distress, attitude toward institutional authority and offensive communication with the mother.

CONCLUSIONS: Relational aggression underlies important explanatory dimensions for the prevention of school aggression, such as social reputation and psychological distress, which have been little explored in this field of study.