Aggression as a Mediator Between Ineffective Parenting Practices and Adolescent Deviant Behaviors

This study examined the mediating effect of aggression on the relationship between three ineffective parenting practices (weak supervision, inconsistent parenting, and low warmth) and adolescent deviance. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and a nationally representative longitudinal sample of South Korean adolescents (N = 1,823), results showed that all three parenting practices significantly affected aggression, which, in turn, significantly influenced deviance. Aggression fully mediated the effects of weak supervision and inconsistent parenting on deviance, while partially mediating the relationship between low parental warmth and adolescent deviance. Based on the findings, theoretical and practical implications were discussed.