FAMILY CONTEXT AND AGGRESSION AND VICTIMIZATION IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Research on family environments and bullying have shown that social interaction and cohesion are significant variables in the family context. Similarly, the family makeup, the number of siblings and the quality of the relationships at home were identified as both factors of risk and protection for violent behavior among teenagers. This study aims to analyze the relationship between variables relating to family —such as family structure, socio-demographic background, the quality of family relationships, and family violence— and violence and victimization of teenagers at school. METHODS. The sample consisted of 2552 students between 11 to 18 years old from 28 high schools from Murcia. They answered an anonymous questionnaire which included questions about socio-demographic and family background, as well as the Bull-S test (Cerezo, 2002, 2012) to assign bully or victim roles to students (bullies, victim, victim-bully, other). RESULTS. A clear relationship was established between intra-familial violence and the quality of family relationships, and aggressive behavior at school, although this relationship was weaker for victims of bullying. A relationship was also observed between social and demographic variables and the role of the victim, but this
relationship was not observed with regard to the aggressor. DISCUSSION. This work, in line with previous ones, shows the importance of family context as an agent of socialization and mediation for students’ violent behaviors and victimization at school. The poor quality of family relationships and intra-familiar violence were significant variables in explaining aggressive behaviors. Conversely, the presence of parents at home and intra-familiar violence and threats appear to be relevant components of victimization. By contrast, the relationship with socio-demographic variables appears to be of little relevance and would require further analysis.