Sex and age differences in victimisation and conflict resolution among adolescents in a South Australian school

This study investigated the victimisation experiences and conflict resolution strategies of 591 adolescents (304 boys and 287 girls) enrolled in grades 8 (mean age 13.3 years), 9 (mean age 14.3 years), and 10 (mean age 15.4 years) in a metropolitan secondary school in Adelaide, South Australia. A modified self-report version of the Direct and Indirect Aggression Scales (DIAS) [Bjorkqvist et al., 1992b] and a conflict resolution questionnaire drawn particularly from the work of Feldman and Gowen [1998] were administered. Boys reported more physical and verbal but less indirect victimisation than girls. Girls reported greater use of compromise, obliging, and avoidance than boys but similar amounts of overt anger. Older students reported greater use of compromise than younger students. More highly victimised students reported less use of compromise but more use of anger and avoidance than their less victimised peers. (C) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.