Rural adolescent aggression and parental emotional support

• Published in: Adolescence 2007-03, Vol.42 (165), p.25-50
• Main Authors: LARSEN, Debra, DEHLE, Crystal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent aggressiveness; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Adolescent Mothers; Adolescent Parents; Adolescents; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Affect; Aggression; Aggression - psychology; Aggressiveness (Psychology) in adolescence; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Developmental psychology; Emotional support; Emotions; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Learning Theories; Male; Maternal Age; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Models, Psychological; Mother-Child Relations; Parent and child; Parent-child relations; Parental support; Parents - psychology; Psychological aspects; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Risk Factors; Rural areas; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Rural Youth; Social aspects; Social behavior disorders. Criminal behavior. Delinquency; Social Support; Studies; Substance Abuse; Surveys and Questionnaires; Violence
• ISSN: 0001-8449

Preliminary research findings suggest important distinctions between rural and urban adolescent aggression risk and protective factors. Despite these potentially important differences, most of the existing research on adolescent aggression has utilized urban samples. The current study examines the direct association between parental emotional support and rural adolescent aggression, and whether adolescent psychopathology and substance abuse mediate this association. Multi-method measurement (self-report, parent report, and behavioral observations) were employed in measuring aggression and emotional support variables with rural, nonadjudicated adolescents (N=62) and their mothers or stepmothers. Results indicated that parental emotional support has an indirect influence on adolescent aggression. Adolescent substance abuse was completely mediated by adolescent grade-point average, indicating no significant direct impact on aggression. Adolescent psychopathology significantly mediated the relationship between parental emotional support and adolescent aggression. Particular items contributed substantially to this mediating association, making certain characteristics, rather than a specific diagnosis, relevant to psychopathology's mediating impact. These characteristics include cognitive perception of others as critical or hostile, emotional anxiousness in social situations, and behavioral persistence in social interactions despite these perceptions.