DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/T5FX-5Y71
Defense Date
2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Albert Farrell, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Rosalie Corona, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Traci Wike, Ph.D.
Abstract
There is convincing evidence that demonstrates traumatic stress and aggressive behavior are highly related among adolescents. The evidence is less clear regarding the direction of this relation. The purpose of this study was to examine the reciprocal longitudinal relations between physical aggression and traumatic stress among a predominantly African American sample of middle school students. Support was found for traumatic stress predicting increased levels of physical aggression across the winter to the spring of the sixth grade for boys and across all waves from the fall of the seventh grade to the fall of the eighth grade for both boys and girls. Conversely, physical aggression during the winter of the sixth grade predicted a decrease in traumatic stress in the spring of the sixth grade for both boys and girls. These findings suggest that interventions may need to incorporate skills that are aligned with trauma-informed care practices in order to reduce traumatic stress and physical aggression among adolescents.
Rights
© Erin L Thompson
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
12-13-2016