Personal and Environmental Predictors of Aggression in Adolescence

Abstract

This study aims to find causal factors of aggression in a group of Latino adolescents to achieve a greater understanding of human nature, taking into account personal and contextual variables. The fundamental hypothesis is that moral disengagement, personality traits, self-esteem, values, parenting, sex, and socioeconomic situation can function as possible casual factors of aggression in adolescents. The study examined the variables using the structural equations model (SEM) to determine causal factors of aggression in a sample of 827 adolescents (54% men and 46% women) between 11 and 16 years of age. According to the scientific literature review, sociodemographic, personal, and familiar variables were included in the causal model. The influence of the variables occurred in two ways: one that inhibits aggression and the other that reinforces it. The results are discussed based on identifying protective and risk factors against aggression: biological sex and values of conformity and transcendence as aggression’s inhibitors and, on the other hand, openness, moral disengagement, and leadership values as the most important predictors of aggression.

Personality Traits and Family Environment: Antecedents of Child Aggression

“…Among the different dimensions of Big Five model, agreeableness and conscientiousness were significantly and negatively correlated with aggression. Present findings are consistent with previous studies which showed relationship of agreeableness and aggression [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Agreeableness, which has been defined as cooperative and understanding [ 15 ] is a characteristic that is associated to the motivation to preserve favorable interpersonal connections [ 43 ].…”

Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Symptoms, Evaluation and Treatment

“…The study by Robles-Haydar and colleagues [ 1 ] primarily aimed to identify the correlates of aggression in non-referred adolescents, hypothesizing a major contribution for moral disengagement in the development of antisocial tendencies. This study examined a set of clinically relevant sociodemographic, personal, and familiar variables, using structural equation models to determine causal relationships.…”

The Effect of a Theory-Based Educational Intervention on Reducing Aggressive Behavior among Male Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study

“…According to the available evidence, individual and interpersonal determinants play a role in the occurrence of aggressive behavior [43][44][45]. In the present study, theory of planned behavior (TPB) was selected as a framework for planning the intervention and evaluating its impact.…”