The use of threats to feelings of intimacy and belonging, also known as
relational aggression, has been previously explained using attachment representations
and attributions in childhood. However, the combined role of attachment
representations and attributions in explaining relational aggression in adult peer and
romantic relationships has been unexplored. This study tested the associations
between attachment, attributions, and relational aggression with a specific focus on the
mediating role of attributions. A final sample of 258 undergraduate university
students completed self-report surveys and vignettes to measure the variables of
interest. Results suggested that attachment predicted relational aggression but, with
one exception, attributions did not explain unique variance in relational aggression
after controlling for attachment. Interestingly, hostile attributions mediated the
relationship between dismissing attachment to romantic partners and romantic
relational aggression. Therefore, individuals' attachment representations directly
influenced their levels of relational aggression in relationships regardless of their
attributions.
Author Keywords: Adulthood, Attachment, Attributions, Mediation, Relational Aggression