An initial evaluation of a culturally adapted social problem-solving and relational aggression prevention program for urban African-American relationally aggressive girls.

Recent research demonstrating that relational aggression is associated with peer relationship difficulties, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, social processing deficits, and possibly later mental health disorders among girls has emphasized the need to address the unique expression of aggression among females. Despite these findings, almost all aggression interventions have been directed toward physically aggressive boys. In the current article, the authors describe the acceptability and initial effectiveness of a culturally adapted social problem-solving/social skills intervention for inner-city 3rd- to 5th-grade urban, African American, relationally aggressive girls called the Friend to Friend Program. The authors partnered with youth, teachers, parents, and playground supervisors to design the program, and the current study presents preliminary data suggesting that the intervention is viewed as highly acceptable by participating girls and teachers. Further, the intervention appears to have promise for decreasing at-risk girls' levels of relationally and physically aggressive behaviors, hostile attributions, and loneliness.

The Impact of Community Violence Exposure on Anxiety in Children of Mothers with Depression.

The dual risk of exposure to community violence and maternal depression has potentially negative effects on children. This study examined whether social skills served as a protective factor for the impact of community violence exposure on anxiety within children of African American mothers with depression. Multiple regressions showed that community violence exposure was associated with less anxious coping but more physical symptoms. Findings support that younger children who view themselves as being socially skilled also exhibit higher levels of anxious coping. Implications addressing the importance of age, physical symptoms of anxiety, and anxious vigilance for interventions are discussed.