Girls’ childhood trajectories of disruptive behavior predict adjustment problems in early adolescence

Abstract

The current study examined harsh punishment and peer victimization as developmental precursors to girls’ involvement in physical dating violence (PDV) and the putative mediating effect of rejection sensitivity. The sample comprised 475 African-American and European-American participants of the longitudinal Pittsburgh Girls Study who were dating at age 17. About 10% of girls reported significant perpetration or victimization of physical aggression in the relationship. Results showed that initial level and escalation in harsh punishment (between 10 and 13 years) and escalation in peer victimization (10 The results highlight the need to consider the impact of early experience of different forms of aggression on girls’ risk of PDV involvement.–15 years) predicted PDV involvement, but this relationship was not mediated by rejection sensitivity.