Relational aggression, depressive symptoms, and interdependence among school-age children

•Interdependence moderated the link between relational aggression and depression.•Relational aggression served as a contextual risk factor for depression.•Relational interdependence was as an additive vulnerability for depression.•No gender differences were found.

The present study examined the moderating role of relational-interdependent self-construal (relational interdependence) in the association between relational aggression and depressive symptoms as well as gender differences in the effect. One hundred thirty-two, fourth graded children (50% boys, M age = 10.31) in Taipei, Taiwan participated in this study. A multi-informant approach was used to assess study variables. Relational and physical aggression and indices of sociometric status were assessed by peer nominations. Relational interdependence and friendship intimacy were evaluated by children, and children's depressive symptoms were rated by classroom teachers. Mixed linear models demonstrated that after gender and important covariates (i.e., peer acceptance, peer rejection, and friendship intimacy) were controlled, relational interdependence moderated the association between relational aggression (but not physical aggression) and depressive symptoms. Specifically, this association was stronger for children who displayed high levels of relational interdependence than their peers with moderate and low levels of relational interdependence. No gender differences in the effect were found. The findings suggest that relational aggression as a risk factor and relational interdependence as an additive vulnerability interact to influence the development of depression.