Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Although physical rough-and-tumble play (RTP) has been widely studied in early childhood, there has been little research on RTP in middle childhood. During middle childhood, physical aggression declines, while verbal and relational aggression become increasingly common and significant. It is reasonable to assume that similar changes may occur in various forms of RTP. However, we know very little about the nature or prevalence of verbal or relational RTP in middle childhood, or about how RTP might be related to physical, verbal, and relational aggression in this age group. As part of a longitudinal study of sibling and friend relationships, we examined aggression and RTP in middle childhood. White, middle-class 7-year-olds from western New York were videotaped at home in separate sessions with a sibling and a same-aged friend. During each session, the children completed a construction task, played an unfamiliar board game, and spent time in free play. Sessions were videotaped, transcribed, and coded for physical, verbal, and relational aggression and RTP. Our study demonstrates the occurrence of multiple forms of RTP in sibling and friend interactions during middle childhood. Partner, task, and gender composition of sibling pairs all made a difference in rates of the various forms of aggression and RTP. RTP and aggression did appear to be related to each other, although the connections between them varied, depending on partner and gender, as well as the particular forms of RTP and aggression.
Recommended Citation
Shepard, Anna, "082-7-Year-Olds’ Aggression and Rough-and-Tumble Play with Siblings and Friends" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 21.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/21
082-7-Year-Olds’ Aggression and Rough-and-Tumble Play with Siblings and Friends
Although physical rough-and-tumble play (RTP) has been widely studied in early childhood, there has been little research on RTP in middle childhood. During middle childhood, physical aggression declines, while verbal and relational aggression become increasingly common and significant. It is reasonable to assume that similar changes may occur in various forms of RTP. However, we know very little about the nature or prevalence of verbal or relational RTP in middle childhood, or about how RTP might be related to physical, verbal, and relational aggression in this age group. As part of a longitudinal study of sibling and friend relationships, we examined aggression and RTP in middle childhood. White, middle-class 7-year-olds from western New York were videotaped at home in separate sessions with a sibling and a same-aged friend. During each session, the children completed a construction task, played an unfamiliar board game, and spent time in free play. Sessions were videotaped, transcribed, and coded for physical, verbal, and relational aggression and RTP. Our study demonstrates the occurrence of multiple forms of RTP in sibling and friend interactions during middle childhood. Partner, task, and gender composition of sibling pairs all made a difference in rates of the various forms of aggression and RTP. RTP and aggression did appear to be related to each other, although the connections between them varied, depending on partner and gender, as well as the particular forms of RTP and aggression.