TY - JOUR
T1 - Are Young Adolescents' Social and Emotional Skills Protective Against Involvement in Violence and Bullying Behaviors?
AU - Polan, Julie C.
AU - Sieving, Renee E.
AU - McMorris, Barbara J.
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - This study examined relationships between social-emotional skills and involvement in bullying and violence among young adolescents from ethnically diverse, economically disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. Data were from 171 sixth- and seventh-grade students involved in a larger intervention study. Analyses examined relationships between social-emotional skills measures (intrapersonal skills, stress management skills, interpersonal skills) and involvement in violence, physical bullying, and relational aggression. Of social-emotional skills indicators, interpersonal skills and stress management skills demonstrated significant bivariate relationships with each of the bullying and violence outcomes. In multivariate models, greater interpersonal skills and greater stress management skills were significantly associated with lower odds of violence involvement. Greater stress management skills were also significantly associated with lower levels of physical bullying and relational aggression. Findings suggest that efforts to foster development of young adolescents' social-emotional skills may, in turn, reduce their risk for involvement in bullying and violence.
AB - This study examined relationships between social-emotional skills and involvement in bullying and violence among young adolescents from ethnically diverse, economically disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. Data were from 171 sixth- and seventh-grade students involved in a larger intervention study. Analyses examined relationships between social-emotional skills measures (intrapersonal skills, stress management skills, interpersonal skills) and involvement in violence, physical bullying, and relational aggression. Of social-emotional skills indicators, interpersonal skills and stress management skills demonstrated significant bivariate relationships with each of the bullying and violence outcomes. In multivariate models, greater interpersonal skills and greater stress management skills were significantly associated with lower odds of violence involvement. Greater stress management skills were also significantly associated with lower levels of physical bullying and relational aggression. Findings suggest that efforts to foster development of young adolescents' social-emotional skills may, in turn, reduce their risk for involvement in bullying and violence.
KW - behavior change
KW - child/adolescent health
KW - mental health
KW - violence prevention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878806067&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84878806067&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1524839912462392
DO - 10.1177/1524839912462392
M3 - Article
C2 - 23075502
AN - SCOPUS:84878806067
SN - 1524-8399
VL - 14
SP - 599
EP - 606
JO - Health Promotion Practice
JF - Health Promotion Practice
IS - 4
ER -