The purpose of the present study was to examine peer aggression, victimisation, and
social relationships in children and adolescents in semi-rural India. Aggression and
victimisation were expected to be related to concurrent social problems such as peer
rejection, perceived lack of social support, and perceived conflict in significant
relationships. These findings were expected to be qualified by gender and
developmental differences. Data were collected from 229 fourth-, sixth-, eighth-,
and tenth-graders in a small semi-rural northwestern town in India. Aggressors and
victims were more likely to be rejected than their nonaggressive nonvictimised
peers. Victims and aggressors were more likely to report lack of social support but
not more conflict from significant others than nonvictims. Gender differences were
observed in that males were more likely to be aggressors or victims than females. No
significant developmental differences emerged with regard to peer aggression and
victimisation. Theoretical implications for both the cultural specificity and the
universality of social and behavioural development are discussed.
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