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Age and Gender Differences in Peer Conflict

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine age and gender differences in peer conflict, particularly in regards to conflict issues and resolution strategies reported by children and adolescents. Students from grades 4 and 8 (60 boys, 60 girls) were asked interview questions and given 3 hypothetical scenarios to respond to. Teacher and self-reports were also gathered for each student to assess their level of adaptive ability. The results showed that adolescents tended to report higher rates of conflict and endorsed more cooperative strategies than 4th graders, who endorsed more aggressive tactics. Female students reported having more relational issues and used more conflict-mitigating strategies, while boys reported having more conflicts related to status/dominance. Finally, links were also found between effective resolution strategies and social ability. The implications and limitations of this study are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by a grant to the second author from the Social Sciences and Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Sections of the paper were presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists in Dallas (2004). We thank Jose da Costa and Jack Goldberg for constructive comments on the paper. Nyla de Los Santos, Lynn Brewin, Jennifer Lindquist, Coranne Johnson, and Christine Vandenberghe for assistance in collecting and coding the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, 6-102 Education North, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G5, Canada

    Melanie A. Noakes & Christina M. Rinaldi

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  1. Melanie A. Noakes
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  2. Christina M. Rinaldi
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Correspondence to Christina M. Rinaldi.

Additional information

M. A. Noakes received her Master's degree from the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta, Canada. Her current research interests include assessment of at-risk youth, relapse prevention programs for young offenders, and social emotional functioning of children and adolescents.

C. M. Rinaldi her doctorate from the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University, Canada. Her current research interests include applied developmental psychology, social emotional functioning of children and adolescents, and parent-child relations.

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Noakes, M.A., Rinaldi, C.M. Age and Gender Differences in Peer Conflict. J Youth Adolescence 35, 881–891 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-006-9088-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-006-9088-8

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