Friendship conflict and the development of generalized physical aggression in the early school years: A genetically informed study of potential moderators.

Abstract

Several authors consider high and frequent conflicts between friends during childhood as a serious risk for subsequent conduct problems such as generalized physical aggression toward others (e.g., Kupersmidt, Burchinal, & Patterson, 1995; Sebanc, 2003). Although it seems logical to assume that friendship conflict could have some negative consequences on children's behaviors, some scholars have suggested that a certain amount of conflict between friends may actually promote social adjustment (e.g., Laursen & Pursell, 2009). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of friendship conflict in regard to the development of generalized physical aggression toward others in the early school years (i.e., from kindergarten to Grade 1), as well as the moderating role of relational (i.e., shared positive affect and dyadic conflict resolution skills) and personal (i.e., children's sex and genetic liability for aggression) characteristics in this context. The sample included 745 twins assessed through teacher, peer, child, and friend ratings in kindergarten and Grade 1. Friendship conflict in kindergarten was linearly related to an increase in boys' but not girls' generalized physical aggression. However, shared positive affect and conflict resolution skills mitigated the prospective associations between friendship conflict and generalized physical aggression. These results were independent of children's sex, genetic risk for physical aggression, and initial levels of generalized physical aggression in kindergarten. Fostering a positive relationship between friends at school entry may buffer against the risk associated with experiencing friendship conflict.

The Expression of Genetic Risk for Aggressive and Non-aggressive Antisocial Behavior is Moderated by Peer Group Norms

“…There is also evidence that exposing genetically at risk children and adolescents to prosocial peers prevents the development of antisocial behavior by mitigating the expression of genetic risk (Burt & Klump, 2013). Finally, there is evidence that a positive relationship between children may reduce aggressive behavior even in genetically at-risk children (Salvas et al, 2014). Testing the moderating role of these strategies in regard to the expression of genetic risk towards aggressive and non-aggressive antisocial behavior may well be the next step in putting the environment to good use for curbing genetic risk for antisocial behavior.…”

The Association Between Attachment And Conflict Resolution During Friendship Conflict Among College Students

“…Unfortunately, friendships are occasionally marked with conflict, which can include verbal disagreements as well as physical altercations (Salvas et al, 2014). As Hojjat and Moyer (2017) stated, "friendships constitute one of the most common contexts…people encounter transgressions, provocations, betrayals, and related aversive experiences" (p. 196).…”

“…As Hojjat and Moyer (2017) stated, "friendships constitute one of the most common contexts…people encounter transgressions, provocations, betrayals, and related aversive experiences" (p. 196). Conflict occurs when people have opposing views and include emotional expression (Salvas et al, 2014).…”

“…Conflict within friendships, to a certain point, is beneficial due to prompting social adjustment, change, a higher quality friendship, emotional sensitivity, emotional perspective understanding, and practice of interpersonal skills (Salvas et al, 2014). Conflict management has been shown to be more effective in best friendships compared to acquaintances (Perlman et al, 2015).…”

“…Conflict management has been shown to be more effective in best friendships compared to acquaintances (Perlman et al, 2015). Yet it is also the case that increased conflict within friendships may promote aggressive or manipulative conflict resolution strategies (Salvas et al, 2014), sometimes ending friendships (Perlman et al, 2015). Additionally, breaking the unwritten expectations within a friendship is one of the most common reasons friendships end (Argyle & Henderson, 1983;Hojjat & Moyer, 2017).…”