Some Get Mad, Others Get Sad: the Mediating Role of Jealousy in Female Undergraduate Students' Experiences with Romantic Relational Aggression

Abstract

<p>Romantic relational aggression is a form of psychological abuse that is meant to purposefully incite or induce insecurity about the relationship. It has been shown to be associated with emotional problems such as increased anxiety and depression symptoms as well as aggression, all of which may be manifestations of jealousy. The goal of this study was to propose and test a theoretical model explaining the fundamental role that jealousy plays in mutual romantic relational aggression in intimate partnerships using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that romantic relational victimization is predictive of possessiveness (an indicator of jealousy), which in tum was predictive of aggression use and anxious and depressive symptoms. Model fit indices supported our theory that in this manner, relational victimization serves as a form of jealousy induction, and that the resulting jealousy experienced by the victim can manifest as reciprocal relational aggression, depressive, or anxious symptoms.</p>