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This study explores the relationship between social bonds, individual competencies, and violent behavior. Utilizing data from 11,610 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the research investigates how self-esteem, positive affect, self-control, decision-making, and social connectedness predict violent behavior into adulthood. Key findings highlight that while various competencies predict different offending patterns, self-esteem emerges as a consistent predictor across genders. The results suggest that prevention and intervention strategies should promote the development of core competencies to reduce violence.
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Social Bonds, Identity, and Violence Emily K. Asencio – University of Akron Tia E. Kim – Penn State Brandywine Kirk R. Williams – University of California, Riverside
Background • Studies demonstrate a clear connection between social bonds and refraining from delinquency and crime (Laub and Sampson 1993; Laub and Sampson 2003) • Additional work, though minimal, demonstrates a connection between an individual’s cognitive and emotional characteristics (Giordano, Cernkovich, and Rudolph 2002; Giordano, Schroeder, and Cernkovich 2007)
Background • Recent studies demonstrate that a combination of bonds and individual characteristics known as “core competencies” provides a more comprehensive explanation for problem behavioral outcomes. (Guerra and Bradshaw 2008; Kim, Guerra, and Williams 2008).
Current Study • Do competency indicators predict… • persistence of violent behavior into adulthood? • starting violent behavior in adulthood? • Are there gender differences in these relations?
Participants • 11,610 participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) • Add Health Data set is nationally representative sample of adolescents in grades 7 to 12, conducted in mid-1990s • Current study used data from three waves • Wave I – 1995 • Wave II - 1996 • Wave III – 2001-2002
Measures • Competency Indicators • Self-esteem: 6-item scale (e.g. “you like yourself the way you are”) • Positive affect: 10-item scale (e.g. “bothered by things that usually don’t bother you”) • Self control: 3-item scale (e.g. “you had trouble keeping your mind on what you were doing”) • Decision making: 5-item scale (e.g. “when making decisions, you generally use a systematic method for judging and comparing alternatives”) • Social connectedness: 5-item scale (e.g. “you feel close to people at your school”)
Measures • Outcome • Violence during the life course (Violent behavior at Waves I, II, or III) • Desistance from violence during adult transition (Violent behavior at Waves I and/or II, but not Wave III) • Late starters (Violent behavior at Wave III only)
Summary • The same competencies are predictors of different offending status outcomes. • Self esteem is the only competency that is a consistent predictor across all offending patterns and gender.
Conclusions and Future Directions • Studies focused on predictors of violence should consider different offending patterns • Prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing violent behaviors should focus on positive development of the core competencies.