Inhibition of Emotions as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Victimization Experiences and Aggression in Preadolescence

Chronic victimization by peers sometimes fosters aggression in children (Dodge, 2011; Hodges &
Perry, 1999). Recent data suggest that cross-gender victimization is more common in girls during
middle childhood (Benbenishty, & Astor, 2005). That is, girls are picked on by boys at a proportionally
higher rate than boys are picked on by girls. However, the possibility that enduring cognitive structures
moderate effects of victimization on aggression—by serving as processing filters through which children
perceive, interpret, and respond to the adverse experiences—remains unexplored. In this study, we
assessed whether victimization experiences at the hands of the other sex increased aggression over
the school year. We measured peer-nominated aggression toward the other sex and victimization by
the other sex in 195 children (94 girls, 101 boys; M age 10.1 years). We also examined self-reported
inhibition of emotions as a possible moderator. Results suggest that aggression did not increase over
time if boys were victimized by other boys, but the more that boys were victimized by girls, the more
their aggression increased girls’ aggression was unaffected by victimization by peers of either sex as a
main effect. However, inhibition of emotions moderated the effect of victimization on aggression in both
sexes. Thus, the experience of being victimized by the other sex led to an increase in aggression
toward the other sex only when inhibition of emotions was high, rather than low. These findings
highlight the importance of examining interactive models that contribute to aggression in children.