The present study examined the association between relational aggression and depressive symptoms, and the serial mediation of relational victimization and attachment insecurity in this association from a gender-informed approach. Participants consisted of 35 students (77% female; age: 18–25) for the pilot qualitative study and 206 students (68% female; age: 18–25) for the main quantitative study. Both sets of participants were recruited at the same public university in Guam. The qualitative data were transcribed verbatim and coded by three trained researchers (interrater agreement = 90%). From the qualitative data, several themes, such as relational aggression and victimization, physical aggression and victimization, negative affect and emotion, and culture emerged. All participants reported the use of relational aggression and showing negative emotions in a close relationship. Gender differences in the content of the themes were also found, such that relational aggression and victimization seemed to be more emotionally stressful for women than men. In line with these qualitative findings, the quantitative data showed that relational aggression was associated with depressive symptoms, and this association was mediated by relational victimization and attachment anxiety (not avoidance) only for women, while the contributions of physical aggression and victimization were controlled for. No direct and indirect links for physical aggression was evidenced. These findings are discussed from clinical, developmental and cultural perspectives.

本研究从性别信息的角度研究了关系攻击和抑郁症状之间的关系，以及关系受害和依恋不安全感的系列调解。参加者包括35名学生（77％的女性；年龄：18–25岁）进行试点定性研究； 206名学生（68％的女性；年龄：18–25岁）进行主要定量研究。两组参与者都是在关岛的同一所公立大学招募的。定性数据被逐字记录，并由三名训练有素的研究人员编码（互译员协议= 90％）。从定性数据中，出现了几个主题，例如关系性侵略和受害，身体性侵略和受害，负面影响和情感以及文化。所有参与者都报告了使用关系攻击和在亲密关系中表现出负面情绪。在主题内容上也发现了性别差异，因此女性比男性更容易在感情上受到侵害和受害。根据这些定性结果，定量数据表明，关系攻击与抑郁症状有关，并且这种联系仅由女性的关系受害和依恋焦虑（而非回避）介导，而身体侵害和受害的贡献受到控制。 。没有证据表明对身体攻击有直接和间接的联系。从临床，发展和文化角度讨论了这些发现。在主题内容上也发现了性别差异，因此女性比男性更容易在感情上受到侵害和受害。根据这些定性结果，定量数据表明，关系攻击与抑郁症状有关，并且这种联系仅由女性的关系受害和依恋焦虑（而非回避）介导，而身体侵害和受害的贡献受到控制。 。没有证据表明对身体攻击有直接和间接的联系。从临床，发展和文化角度讨论了这些发现。在主题内容上也发现了性别差异，因此女性比男性更容易在感情上受到侵害和受害。根据这些定性结果，定量数据表明，关系攻击与抑郁症状有关，并且这种联系仅由女性的关系受害和依恋焦虑（而非回避）介导，而身体侵害和受害的贡献受到控制。 。没有证据表明对身体攻击有直接和间接的联系。从临床，发展和文化角度讨论了这些发现。定量数据表明，关系攻击与抑郁症状有关，这种联系仅由女性的关系受害和依恋焦虑（而非回避）介导，而身体攻击和受害的贡献受到控制。没有证据表明对身体攻击有直接和间接的联系。从临床，发展和文化角度讨论了这些发现。定量数据表明，关系攻击与抑郁症状有关，这种联系仅由女性的关系受害和依恋焦虑（而非回避）介导，而身体攻击和受害的贡献受到控制。没有证据表明对身体攻击有直接和间接的联系。从临床，发展和文化角度讨论了这些发现。