Violence in adolescent romantic relationships: role of self-esteem and delinquent behavior

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je istražiti odnos samopoštovanja, delinkventnog ponašanja i nasilja u adolescentnim romantičnim vezama te utvrditi doprinos ovih varijabli, kao i sociodemografskih obilježja u predikciji nasilnog ponašanja. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 425 učenika četvrtih razreda iz 5 srednjih škola na području grada Zagreba. Od ukupnog broja sudionika njih 202 je u posljednjih 6 mjeseci bilo u ljubavnoj vezi (od čega 111 djevojaka i 91 mladić). Uz upitnik sa sociodemografskim podacima, korišten je instrument koji se sastoji od Skale samopoštovanja, Upitnika samoiskaza rizičnog i delinkventnog ponašanja te Upitnika počinjenog i doživljenog nasilja u vezi. Rezultati dobiveni ovim istraživanjem pokazuju da su oni sudionici koji imaju niže samopoštovanje i češće čine delinkventna ponašanja skloniji počinjenju i doživljavanju nasilja u vezama. Nisu pronađene značajne razlike u počinjenju i doživljavanju nasilja između učenika gimnazijskog i strukovnog usmjerenja. Model predikcije počinjenog nasilja u vezi pokazuje da više počinjenog nasilja predviđa ženski rod, dulje trajanje veze, više delinkventnog ponašanja i češće doživljavanje nasilja. Model predikcije doživljenog nasilja u vezi pokazuje da više doživljenog nasilja predviđa muški rod i više počinjenog nasilja.The main goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-esteem, delinquent behavior and violence in adolescent relationships and to determine the contribution of these variables and socio-demographic data in predicting violent behavior. The study included 425 participants, fourth grade students from 5 high schools in city of Zagreb; 202 of them have been in romantic relationship in the last 6 months (111 females and 91 males). Results were collected using the instrument that included questions on socio-demographic data and four questionnaires: Self-esteem scale, Youth self-reported delinquency and risk behaviours questionnaire, Experience of exposure to violence and Experience of perpetrated violence. The results show that the participants with lower self-esteem and more delinquent behavior tend to commit and experience more violence in romantic relationships. There were no differences in perpetration and victimization between students from gymnasiums and vocational schools. Model of prediction for committed violence shows that female gender, longer relationship, more delinquent behavior and experienced violence are significant predictors of committing violence. Model of prediction for victimization shows that male gender and more committed violence predict greater experience of violence in a relationship