The relationship between violence in the family and adolescents aggression: The mediator role of self-control, social support, religiosity, and well-being

• Published in: Children and youth services review Vol. 91; pp. 447 - 456
• Main Authors: Agbaria, Qutaiba, Natur, Nazeh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent boys; Adolescents; Aggressiveness; Arab Israeli relations; Domestic violence; Educational programs; Families & family life; Random sampling; Religiosity; Self control; Skills; Social skills; Social support; Teenagers; Training; Violence; Well being; Israel
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.06.016

This paper addresses to what extent experiencing violence in the Palestinian Arab family in Israel is a predictor for elements of aggressive behavior, and to what extent is it influenced by skills of self-control, social support, religiosity and well-being as mediators of aggressive behavior. One hundred and sixty Arab adolescents (42.3% male and 57.7% female) Grades 9–12 were sampled in a convenient sampling (none random sampling method) from Palestinian Arab family in Israel. Significant positive correlation was found between experiencing violence in the family and aggression (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), with significant negative correlation between self-control skills and aggression (r = −0.626, p < 0.01), religiosity and aggression(r = −0.647, p < 0.01), social support and aggression (r = −0.59, p < 0.01), and no significant correlation between well-being and aggression (r = −0.12, p > 0.05). Social support, self-control and religiosity each alone, fully mediated the relationship between violence in the family and aggression. These findings constitute a theoretical contribution to knowledge gained with respect to aggression among adolescents and students. In addition, the findings could make a practical contribution through development of training programs on the use of mediating skills.