Aggressive Behavior in Late Adolescence: An Application of Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to establish and develop the causal relationship model of late adolescence aggression and 2) to examine the coherence of the causal relationship model of late adolescence aggression developed by the researcher with empirical data. The research sample was 300 late adolescents. The research tools were the Social Support Measuring Form, Parenting Measuring Form, and Aggression Measuring Form. The data were analyzed with the structural equation model. The results revealed that the causal relationship model of late adolescence aggression was consistent with the empirical data indicating χ2 = 14.270, df = 11, p = .218, χ2/df = 1.297, GFI index = 0.992, AGFI index = 0.952, NFI index = 0.996, NNFI index = 0.996, CFI index = 0.999, RMR index = 0.023, SRMR index = 0.031, RMSEA index = 0.030 and LSR = 3.086. All variables accounted for 48.00% of the variance in late adolescence aggression. The negative parenting variable had the most direct influence on aggression with statistical significance at the .01 level. The influence size was 0.736 and the negative parenting variable had direct influence on social support with statistical significance at the .01 level and an influence size of -0.569.