Perceptions of Parenting Practices as Predictors of Aggression in a Low-Income, Urban, Predominately African American Middle School Sample

Abstract

This research examined the relation between early adolescent aggression and parenting practices in an urban, predominately African American sample. Sixth graders (N = 209) completed questionnaires about their overt and relational aggressive behaviors and perceptions of caregivers’ parenting practices. Findings indicated that moderate levels of parental expectations for peaceful solutions at Time 1 were associated with a lower likelihood of overt aggression at Time 2. Furthermore, findings suggest that when caregivers’ support and knowledge of adolescents’ whereabouts were relatively low or when caregivers’ exerted high psychological control, moderate levels of parental expectations for peaceful solutions protected early adolescents against engagement in both overt and relational aggression. The implications of the findings for schools and other youth violence prevention settings are discussed.

Adolescent Reports of Aggression as Predictors of Perceived Parenting Behaviors and Expectations

“…Items were submitted to principal components analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation. Consistent with findings of previous research (Multisite Violence Prevention Project, 2006), a two-factor solution yielded a more meaningful structure conceptually than did a three-factor solution (detailed PCA results have been published elsewhere; Murray et al, 2010). Thus two scales were created, Perceived Parental Expectations for Peaceful Solutions (seven items; alpha = .73 at Time 1, .80 at Time 2) and Perceived Parental Expectations for Aggressive Solutions (five items; alpha = .78 at Time 1, .84 at Time 2).…”

“…Despite these efforts, subsequent research with parents at the study schools and anecdotal information revealed a number of factors contributed to the low response rate, including students inconsistently bringing materials from school to parents, low literacy levels among many parents that may have affected comprehension of the research consent form, and parents' mistrust of academic research involving their children. A detailed description of other study procedures has been given elsewhere (Murray, Haynie, Howard, Cheng, & Simons‐Morton, ).…”

“…PCA with varimax rotation was performed to determine whether items loaded on factors consistent with the perceived support, knowledge, and psychological control scales in this sample. Based on the results of these preliminary analyses, two variables were created (detailed PCA results have been published elsewhere; Murray et al, ). The first variable reflects a support/knowledge dimension, and the second reflects a psychological control dimension.…”

A Friend Request from Dear Old Dad: Associations Between Parent–Child Social Networking and Adolescent Outcomes

“…Accordingly, the current study examines the associations between parent-child use of social networking sites and feelings of connection and other adolescent outcomes. Given that parent-child connection tends to be associated with positive outcomes in adolescents, 20,21 we predict that heightened use of social networking sites between parents and adolescents will be associated with increased feelings of connection, which would then lead to positive adolescent outcomes, including decreased aggression, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and increased prosocial behavior toward family.…”

Perceived parental psychological control has indirect effects on aggression via need satisfaction and motivation for revenge

“…Aggression was defined as “behavior aimed at harming or injuring another person or persons” (Parke & Slaby, 1983). Dozens of studies have reported PPC’s relation with different types of aggression: physical (Blossom, Fite, Frazer, Cooley, & Evans, 2016; Casas et al, 2006; Cui, Morris, Criss, Houltberg, & Silk, 2014; Gaertner et al, 2010; Murray, Dwyer, Rubin, Knighton-Wisor, & Booth-LaForce, 2014; Nelson, Hart, Yang, Olsen, & Jin, 2006; Rathert, Fite, & Gaertner, 2011; Stevens & Hardy, 2013), verbal (Hart, Nelson, Robinson, Olsen, & McNeilly-Choque, 1998; Kuppens, Grietens, Onghena, & Michiels, 2009; Leadbeater, Banister, Ellis, & Yeung, 2008; Little & Seay, 2014; Loukas, Paulos, & Robinson, 2005; Murray, Haynie, Howard, Cheng, & Simons-Morton, 2010; Yu & Gamble, 2008), relational (see meta-analysis by Kuppens, Laurent, Heyvaert, & Onghena, 2013), peer victimization (Li, Zhang, & Wang, 2015), cyberbullying (Fousiani, Dimitropoulou, Michaelides, & Van Petegem, 2016), and self-directed aggression (McCormick, Turner, & Foster, 2015). The studies mentioned above were conducted in several different countries and used samples from childhood to emerging adulthood; therefore, PPC’s association with aggression does not seem to be limited to certain countries/cultures or age-groups.…”