Predictors of Adolescents’ Antisocial Behavior in Southeastern Nigeria: Exposure to Armed Conflict and Physical Punishment at Home-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Predictors of Adolescents’ Antisocial Behavior in Southeastern Nigeria: Exposure to Armed Conflict and Physical Punishment at Home

Published:2023-04-01 Issue:1 Volume:6 Page:86-102
ISSN:2601-8640
Container-title:European Journal of Social Sciences
language:en
Short-container-title:

Author:

Anih Anthony S.¹,Söderberg Patrik¹,Björkqvist Kaj¹

Affiliation:

1. 1 Department of Developmental Psychology , Åbo Akademi University , Finland

Abstract

Abstract Despite extensive studies on the relationship between armed conflict and behavioral problems among adolescents, the micro-level mechanisms through which the former influences the latter are not well understood. The current study examines the relationship between exposure to the Fulani herdsmen attacks among Igbo adolescents in Southeastern Nigeria and antisocial behavior. Using a mediation analysis, it was examined whether physical punishment mediated the relationship. A sample of 385 secondary school students (227 girls, 157 boys; Mage = 16.3; SD = 1.35) completed a questionnaire during class. It was found that exposure to the Fulani herdsmen attacks predicted antisocial behavior among the adolescents, and the effect was weakly mediated by the experiences of physical punishment at home. The findings suggest that living in an environment of armed conflict may lead to increased levels of antisocial behavior in adolescents.

Publisher

Walter de Gruyter GmbH

Subject

General Medicine

Link

https://www.sciendo.com/pdf/10.2478/eujss-2023-0008

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