Relations between anxiety symptoms and relational aggression and victimization in emerging adults

Although it has been suggested that relational aggression (RA) and relational victimization (RV) are associated with elevated rates of social anxiety (SA), the nature of how these behaviors relate to the symptom development of SA has not yet been explored. In the present study, we investigated the relations between the symptoms of SA and general anxiety and RA and RV in a questionnaire study of 315 emerging adults. To identify the unique predictive power of RA/RV, a series of hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, controlling for gender, age, and physical aggression and victimization. All symptoms of anxiety were uniquely and positively predicted by RA; however, only symptoms of cognitive and somatic anxiety were predicted positively and uniquely by RV. These findings further elucidate the linkage between RA and anxiety in early adulthood, serving to highlight the importance of considering lifetime social history when investigating anxiety and aggression and victimization behaviors.