Influence of perceived neighborhood safety on proactive and reactive aggression

Abstract

The current study examined associations between perceived neighborhood safety and proactive and reactive subtypes of aggression while also considering peer delinquency and poor parental monitoring in a community recruited sample of 89 children (56% male) ranging from 9 to 12 years of age (M=10.44, SD=1.14). In addition, neighborhood safety was examined as a moderator of the associations between peer delinquency and poor parental monitoring and proactive and reactive aggression. Findings suggested that while peer delinquency was positively associated with both proactive and reactive aggression, perceived neighborhood safety was only associated with proactive aggression. Moreover, neighborhood safety moderated the association between peer delinquency and proactive aggression, such that the association between peer delinquency and proactive aggression was stronger in neighborhoods perceived as less safe when compared neighborhoods perceived as more safe. Implications for findings are discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Validity and Reliability of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire in Turkish Adolescents

“…Second we hypothesized that while reactive aggression is positively associated with trait anger, anxiety, depression and hostility, proactive aggression is not as consistent with earlier studies (Card and Little, 2006;Raine et al, 2006;Fite et al, 2009;Vitaro et al, 2002). Third, we hypothesized that subscales of RPQ are positively associated with delinquent behaviors (Card and Little, 2006), deviant peers (Fite et al, 2010) and attitudes towards violence. Fourth, we hypothesized that males would score higher than females, both in the reactive and proactive forms of aggression (Salmivalli and Nieminen, 2002).…”

“…Laird et al (1999) determined that those who define their best friends as those with high antisocial behaviors define themselves in a similar way. Some researchers indicated that peer guilt is associated with aggression Fite et al 2010). Fite et al (2010) reported that peer guilt is correlated with both reactive and proactive aggression, but has a stronger relationship with reactive aggression than proactive aggression.…”

“…Some researchers indicated that peer guilt is associated with aggression Fite et al 2010). Fite et al (2010) reported that peer guilt is correlated with both reactive and proactive aggression, but has a stronger relationship with reactive aggression than proactive aggression. and determined that peer guilt is associated with reactive aggression.…”

“…In another study, moderated role of the crime of perceived best friend was determined between reactive aggressions of children and disciplinary offenses . Some studies indicate that peer guilt is associated with proactive aggression rather than reactive aggression , yet other studies indicate its relation with reactive aggression Fite et al, 2010). Considering that peer with guilt and aggression behavior might be taken as a model (Warr, 1996) or that peers might reinforce their aggression behaviors either directly or indirectly, peer guilt can be expected to be associated with both reactive and proactive aggression.…”

“…In the literature, there are studies indicating that peer guilt is only associated with proactive aggression or only with reactive aggression Fite et al, 2010) Fite and reported in the study carried out in early adolescence, that delinquent behaviors of their peers increase reactive aggression and vice versa. Similarly, in a longitudinal study, a moderated role was seen in the crime of the perceived best friend among reactive aggression of children with disciplinary offenses (Fite and Rathert et al, 2011).…”