Relational aggression and relational inclusion in adolescents: the role of empathic concern for victims of relational aggression and perspective taking

ABSTRACT This study examined the role of a) empathic concern for victims of relational aggression (ECV) and b) perspective taking (PT) in explaining self- and peer-reported relational aggression (RA) and relational inclusion (RI) in a sample of 345 adolescents. The direct association among ECV, PT and self- and peer-reported RA and RI was investigated. The moderating effect of ECV on the association between PT and RA and RI was also explored. Structural equation modelling was used, and the results showed that ECV may be important in preventing RA but less important in explaining RI among adolescents. The results further revealed that PT was positively associated with self-reported RA but not with peer-reported RA. The possibility that the two methods provide supplementary information is discussed. The main findings emphasise the importance of developing initiatives that increase adolescents’ empathic concern towards RA victims.