Traditionally males have been regarded as the more aggressive sex. However, recent research in several countries has challenged this notion by considering different forms of aggression. This paper provides an overview of a qualitative investigation of teenage girls' indirect forms of aggression (e.g., exclusion from the group, spreading false stories). Focus groups and pair and individual interviews were used to collect data from adolescent girls and their teachers in two schools. The study provides some clear insights into the nature of teenage girls' indirect aggression. The predominant indirectly aggressive behaviors include talking about others and excluding peers from the group. Key explanations for these behaviors concern a desire to create excitement and a range of friendship and group processes centered on girls' needs for close personal relationships and to be a part of the peer group. The girls described the devastating effects of indirect aggression, particularly on girls with certain characteristics that predispose them to victimization. The girls were pessimistic about the potential of interventions, although peer mediation processes may be a way forward. Aggr. Behav. 26:67–83, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

While teachers' moral orientation does impact upon the kinds of responses to bullying they choose, seriousness of the incident is more important. However, seriousness as perceived by teachers may not be consistent with impact on students. Implications for teacher education and policy are discussed.

This study examined how different modes of acculturation and perceived social support are related to adolescent refugee psychosocial adjustment, as measured by global self-worth and peer social acceptance. The 83 participants, aged between 12 and 19 and now resident in Australia, were from the former Republic of Yugoslavia. Those who had the most positive attitudes toward both cultures obtained the highest ratings of self-worth and peer social acceptance. In contrast, those who had negative attitudes toward both cultures had the lowest scores on these measures of psychosocial adjustment. Results were consistent with the proposition that the effects of acculturation on adjustment are mediated by peer social support.

This qualitative study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the adaptation of children and families to childhood chronic illness. Considering ecological theories and child empowerment, we departed from the usual practice of relying solely on parental report by also soliciting children's views. Eighteen children aged 7-14 with cancer, chronic renal failure or type 1 diabetes, and 21 of their parents, participated. The inclusion of several conditions enabled the examination of data from a categorical versus non-categorical perspective. Focus groups supplemented by individual interviews explored participants' views about challenges and the processes they considered important in enhancing adaptation to a chronic illness. Children, as well as parents, provided rich material. Thematic analysis revealed 11 main themes. Six concerned the impact of the illness on various aspects of life. The other main themes were the meaning of disease, stress-processing, social support, future concerns and psychosocial interventions. There were many similarities and some differences between parent and child reports. Many issues were common across illness groups, consistent with a non-categorical approach, though there were some illness-specific issues, especially for those with cancer. Positive as well as negative material emerged. Implications for clinical services are discussed.

School-based sexual harassment of adolescent girls by boys appears commonplace, yet aggression and bullying studies rarely yield sexualized material. This qualitative Australian study with 72 14-to 15-year-olds and 7 teachers aimed to discover whether interviewer use of neutral language in gender-segregated focus groups and interviews would yield material indicating that the victimization of girls by boys is sexualized. Verbal and indirect victimization were reported to be everyday occurrences, and almost entirely sexual. Findings are discussed in the light of definitions of sexual harassment, bullying and aggression. It is concluded that the term "sexual bullying" appropriately captures the gendered power structure underlying these behaviors. As such, they need to be understood, and become visible, more broadly than in terms of individual pathology.