Applying a Bifactor Model to the Functions of Relational Aggression: Influence of Hostile Attribution Biases and Emotion Regulation Skills

This study examines hostile attribution biases and emotion regulation skills as underlying processes of the pure and co-occurring functions of relational aggression (RA). Access to regulation strategies mediated the path predicting pure reactive RA, and engaging in goal-directed behavior was an additional mediator in the model predicting pure proactive RA.