School Adjustment Problems and Early Adolescent Violence: A Moderated Mediation Model of Deviant Peer Association and Self-Control

초록

This study investigates the developmental mechanisms linking school adjustment problems to early violent behavior, focusing on the mediating role of deviant peer association and the moderating effect of low self-control. Drawing on a nationally representative longitudinal sample of South Korean children (n = 2,545), this study tests a moderated mediation model during late childhood, a critical period for shaping behavioral trajectories. Findings indicate that school adjustment problems increase the likelihood of associating with deviant peers, which is associated with a higher risk of violent behavior. Mediation analyses further show that deviant peer association significantly mediates the relationship between school adjustment problems and violent behavior. In addition, results reveal that low self-control significantly moderates the association between deviant peer affiliation and violent behavior, such that the influence of deviant peers is stronger for children with lower self-control, indicating an amplifying effect. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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