Familial Impacts on Adolescent Aggression and Depression in Colombia

Abstract

This study examines how parental conflict and parenting influence aggression and depression by adolescents in Colombia, a country characterized by high societal violence, that provides an interesting backdrop for our analysis of familial conflict. Drawing upon socialization and parenting perspectives, we model the effects of overt and covert parental conflict on adolescent outcomes as mediated by parenting behaviors. Data were gathered by questionnaires completed by 493 high school students in Bogota, Colombia. Findings suggest that family interaction plays a role in adolescent aggression and depression. However, rather than a strong direct effect of overt parental conflict on aggression through social learning, we find a more influential association of overt conflict with parenting, which, in turn, is related to aggression. Covert parental conflict and parental support are more directly associated with depression. Controls for gender, family structure, family socioeconomic status, and authority relations in the family are also included.

Key Words:

• Adolescent aggression
• adolescent depression
• covert conflict
• overt conflict
• parental conflict