Aggressive behavior in adolescence as a predictor of personal, family, and school adjustment problems

  1. Estefanía Estévez 1
  2. Teresa I. Jiménez 2
  3. David Moreno 3
  1. 1 Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche
    info

    Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche

    Elche, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01azzms13

  2. 2 Universidad de Zaragoza
    info

    Universidad de Zaragoza

    Zaragoza, España

    ROR https://ror.org/012a91z28

  3. 3 Universidad Pablo de Olavide
    info

    Universidad Pablo de Olavide

    Sevilla, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02z749649

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Journal:
Psicothema

ISSN: 0214-9915

Year of publication: 2018

Volume: 30

Issue: 1

Pages: 66-73

Type: Article

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More publications in: Psicothema

Abstract

Background: The goal of the present study was to determine the extent to which aggressive behavior towards peers predicts greater personal, school, and family maladjustment in adolescent aggressors of both sexes. Method: The sample consisted of 1510 Spanish adolescents from 12 to 17 years old, who anonymously and voluntarily completed self-report questionnaires. Results: Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that, regarding personal adjustment, aggressive behavior was signifi cantly associated with high scores in depressive symptomatology, perceived stress and loneliness, and low scores in self-esteem, life satisfaction and empathy, for both sexes. In the school setting, aggressive behavior was related to low scores in academic engagement, friends in the classroom, perception of teacher support, and a positive attitude towards school. At the family level, signifi cant relationships were observed between aggressive behavior and high scores in offensive communication and family confl ict, and low scores in open communication with parents, general expressiveness, and family cohesion. Conclusions: In cases of peer violence it is necessary to give urgent attention to all those involved, since maladjustment in aggressors can be predicted in many levels of intervention

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Funding information

This study was funded by the project “Bullying, ciberbullying y violencia filio-parental en la adolescencia” – Reference: PSI2015-65683-P [MINECO/FEDER, UE], and subsidized by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, and the European Union though the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional –FEDER– “Una manera de hacer Europa”.

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