Factors predicting aggressive behaviors in Thai adolescents exposed to violence

<p>Patcharin Nintachan, Nantiya Ekathikhomkit, Juthatip Kingkaew, and Arissara Suksri</p>

Factors predicting aggressive behaviors in Thai adolescents exposed to violence

Patcharin Nintachan, Nantiya Ekathikhomkit, Juthatip Kingkaew, and Arissara Suksri

Mahidol University, Thailand

: J Nurs Patient Care

Abstract

The purposes of this study were: 1) to investigate the relationships between gender, age, friend’s aggressive behaviors, hearing about violent events, witnessing of violent events, depression, family atmosphere, and resilience and aggressive behaviors, and 2) to determine factors predicting aggressive behaviors in Thai adolescents exposed to violence. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a school from one province of the three southern border provinces, Thailand. The 728 secondary school students have participated in the study. Data were collected by a set of self-report questionnaires including a demographic questionnaire, the Thai version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Family Atmosphere Questionnaire, Resilience Inventory, and Thai Aggressive Behaviors Scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression were employed in statistical analyses. The results revealed that gender, age, friend’s aggressive behaviors, witnessing violent events, depression, family atmosphere, and resilience were significantly related to aggressive behaviors. There was no a statistically significant relationship with aggressive behaviors for hearing about violent events. Gender, age, friend’s aggressive behaviors, depression, family atmosphere, and resilience could collectively explain the variance of aggressive behaviors at 48.9 percentages. The findings of this study can be used as basic information to develop the program to prevent aggressive behaviors, enhance resilience and family atmosphere in Thai adolescents exposed to violence.