Do Social Connections and Hope Matter in Predicting Early Adolescent Violence?

• DOI: 10.1007/s10464-010-9387-9
• Publication Date: 2010-12-22T23:34:34Z
• Authors: Sarah A. Stoddard; Barbara J. McMorris; Renee E. Sieving
• Keywords: Hopefulness; Social Connectedness; Health psychology; Protective factor

We tested relationships between social connections, hope, and violence among young adolescents from socially distressed urban neighborhoods, examined whether adolescents' family school connectedness involvement were mediated by hopefulness. Data middle students involved in the Lead Peace demonstration study. The sample (N = 164) was 51.8% female; 42% African American, 28% Asian, 13% Hispanic, 17% mixed race or other race; average age 12.1 years; 46% reported physical fighting past year. In multivariate models, parent-family protective against violence; marginally protective. Hopefulness related to lower levels of violence. relationship hopefulness; some evidence for mediation also existed family-parent relationship. Findings warrant continued exploration hopefulness as an important factor involvement, a mediator connections involvement.