The Relationship between Peer Attachment and Aggressive Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Effect of Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy.

Haitao Liu,Xue Zheng,Chengfu Yu,Yangang Nie,Kai Dou

doi:10.3390/ijerph18137123

Abstract

This study aimed to test the association between peer attachment and aggressive behavior, as well as the mediating effect of regulatory emotional self-efficacy on this relationship. A total of 1171 (582 male, 589 female) Chinese adolescents completed self-reported questionnaires that assessed peer attachment, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and aggressive behavior. Path analysis showed that the negative association between peer attachment and adolescent aggressive behavior was mediated by self-efficacy in managing negative emotions. However, the mediating effect of self-efficacy in expressing positive emotions was nonsignificant. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the indirect paths mentioned above between male and female respondents. These findings highlight self-efficacy in managing negative emotions as a potential mechanism linking peer attachment to adolescent aggressive behavior.

Highlights

This study aimed to test the association between peer attachment and aggressive behavior, as well as the mediating effect of regulatory emotional self-efficacy on this relationship
Based on existing theories and research, this study aims to health and peer influence is focused on negative peer behavior, whereas the current study investigate: (1) whether peer attachment is negatively associated with aggressive behavior, uses the concept of peer attachment to focus on the emotions of adolescents and to explore and (2) “how” peer attachment affects aggressive behavior and adolescent aggressive behavior
There were no significant differences in peer attachment, positive emotions (POS), negative emotions (NEG), and aggressive behavior between junior school versus high school students

Summary

Introduction

This study aimed to test the association between peer attachment and aggressive behavior, as well as the mediating effect of regulatory emotional self-efficacy on this relationship. (582 male, 589 female) Chinese adolescents completed self-reported questionnaires that assessed peer attachment, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and aggressive behavior. Path analysis showed that the negative association between peer attachment and adolescent aggressive behavior was mediated by self-efficacy in managing negative emotions. There was no significant difference in the indirect paths mentioned above between male and female respondents. These findings highlight self-efficacy in managing negative emotions as a potential mechanism linking peer attachment to adolescent aggressive behavior. This study’s primary purpose is to use the perspective of self-evaluation to examine whether peer attachment can predict aggressive behavior through regulatory emotional self-efficacy

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion