Examining the Impact of Anxiety Symptoms on Relations between Reactive and Proactive Aggression and the Quality and Stability of Children's Best Friendships
Issue Date
2012-12-31Author
Hendrickson, Michelle Lynn
Publisher
University of Kansas
Format
50 pages
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
M.A.
Discipline
Clinical Child Psychology
Rights
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The current study examined anxiety symptoms as a moderator of the relation between reactive and proactive aggression and the quality and stability of children's relationships with their best friend. An at-risk sample of 132 (55% male; 73% African American) 5 to 14-year-old children from low-income families was recruited from a community center that offered childcare to underserved populations. Data were collected at baseline and two months later, with the second wave of data collection yielding a sample of 79 children. Structural equation modeling was used to examine relations between baseline levels of reactive and proactive aggression and friendship quality and stability two months later. Additionally, anxiety symptoms measured at baseline were examined as a moderator of the relations between these functions of aggression and the quality and stability of children's best friendships. Contrary to hypotheses, no first order effects were found for either reactive or proactive aggression predicting friendship quality or stability. A first order effect was found in which child anxiety predicted a greater likelihood of friendship instability. However, levels of anxiety symptoms were not found to influence perceived level of friendship quality. Additionally, anxiety was not found to moderate the relations between reactive or proactive aggression and either friendship success variable. Post-hoc analyses failed to find differences for gender or age.
Collections
- Psychology Dissertations and Theses [459]
- Theses [3940]
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.