| Relational aggression, a form of nonphysical aggression used to damage relationships, is displayed in children as young as 3 years of age. Relational aggression increases with age when intervention does not occur. Although associated with social and psychological problems in children and adolescents, relational aggression is not as easily perceived by adults as is physical aggression. Differences have been documented between caregivers and teachers, between mothers and fathers, and between members of different ethnic groups regarding beliefs and attitudes toward childhood behavior, but studies have not been conducted to examine differences among caregivers of preschool children in terms of how the caregivers perceive the acceptability of relational aggression. The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare perceptions between caregivers and teachers, between male and female caregivers, and between Caucasians and African Americans concerning the acceptability of relational aggression in preschool children. Participants were recruited from daycare centers serving preschool children in central North Carolina. A convenience sample of 273 participants, including 138 caregivers and 135 teachers of preschool children, completed the Parents' Normative Beliefs about Aggression questionnaire. Differences between groups were computed using independent samples t tests and analysis of covariance, with age, educational level, and years of teaching experience computed as covariates. Significant differences between groups were not found for the research questions. Additional analyses based on the ANCOVA results revealed that educational level and acceptability of relational aggression scores were positive and significant for caregivers, r(136) = .24, p = .004, and for the entire sample, r(271) = .22, p < .001. Findings from this study indicate that adults who obtain higher levels of education perceive relational aggression as more acceptable than those with lower levels of education. Recommendations for future studies include qualitative research to determine why higher levels of education relate to greater acceptability of relational aggression, and the development of caregiver and teacher education programs designed for individuals with varying educational levels. |
