Predicting Adolescent Aggression Based on Social Anxiety and Self-Criticism: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation

This study aimed to Predicting Adolescent Aggression Based on Social Anxiety and Self-Criticism, with emotion regulation as a mediating variable. The research employed a correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised adolescents aged ۱۳ to ۱۸ in Larestan County, with a sample of ۲۵۵ participants selected based on Stevens' (۲۰۰۲) criterion. Data were collected using the Williams et al. (۱۹۹۶) Aggression Questionnaire, the Jerabek Social Anxiety Questionnaire, the Thompson and Zuroff (۲۰۰۴) Self-Criticism Questionnaire, and the Gross and John (۲۰۰۳) Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Analyses were conducted using SPSS ۲۶ and AMOS ۲۴, applying Pearson correlation, regression, and SEM. The findings demonstrated that emotion regulation significantly mediates the relationship between social anxiety, self-criticism, and aggression in adolescents. Specifically, the indirect effect of social anxiety on aggression via emotion regulation was significant (β = -۰.۱۰, p = ۰.۰۰۱, ۹۵% CI [-۰.۱۷, -۰.۰۵]). Similarly, the indirect effect of self-criticism on aggression through emotion regulation was also significant (β = -۰.۰۸, p = ۰.۰۰۲, ۹۵% CI [-۰.۱۴, -۰.۰۴]). The absence of zero in both confidence intervals confirmed the mediating role of emotion regulation. The results provide strong empirical support for the proposed mediation model, highlighting the importance of emotion regulation in mitigating the effects of social anxiety and self-criticism on adolescent aggression. These findings suggest the need for intervention programs that enhance emotion regulation skills to reduce aggression in adolescents.

کلیدواژه ها:

Adolescent ، aggression ، social anxiety ، self-criticism ، emotion regulation