Perceived stress and adolescent relational aggression: the mediating role of self-control and moderating role of mindfulness

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Background Research has primarily focused on direct aggression in adolescents that is easier to recognize and assess, compared to concealed aggression that may be more damaging. Hence, this study investigated the association between perceived stress and relational aggression in adolescents, exploring the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of mindfulness to provide empirical evidence and theoretical implications for the prevention of adolescent relational aggression. Methods A sample of 3638 middle and high school students from China participated in this study (51.5% males, mean age = 14.01 years) and completed the questionnaires on perceived stress, self-control, relational aggression and mindfulness. Results We found that perceived stress was negatively correlated with self-control and mindfulness and positively correlated with relational aggression, whereas self-control was positively correlated with mindfulness and negatively correlated with relational aggression. A significant negative correlation was found between mindfulness and relational aggression. Mediation effect analysis showed that after controlling for gender and age, perceived stress could significantly and positively predict adolescent relational aggression, whereas self-control played a significant mediating role in the relationship between perceived stress and relational aggression. Moderated mediating effects showed that mindfulness significantly moderated the relationship between perceived stress and self-control and between perceived stress and relational aggression. Specifically, the effects of perceived stress on self-control and relational aggression were stronger at high levels of mindfulness. Conclusions Our findings thus deepen the understanding of how perceived stress intensifies relational aggression in adolescents and have implications for preventing and reducing relational aggression in this vulnerable population.