Date of Conferral
2-1-2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Eric Hickey
Abstract
Aggressive behavior among adolescents poses significant challenges for families, educators, and communities, often stemming from complex interactions between parental behavior and environmental factors. This quantitative nonexperimental study examined the relationship between parental neglect, socioeconomic status (SES), and adolescent aggression, guided by the parental acceptance-rejection theory. Data were collected from 250 parents of adolescents age 12-18 divided into two groups: those reporting no to low levels of aggression and those reporting moderate to high levels. Binary logistic regression was employed to predict the likelihood of adolescent aggression based on parental neglect (categorical) and SES (scale). The results demonstrated that parental neglect was a significant predictor of adolescent aggression (B = 3.435, p < .001, Exp(B) = 31.024), with neglected adolescents being 31 times more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors compared to their peers. SES, however, was not found to be a statistically significant predictor (B = 0.315, p = .112). These findings extend PARTheory’s assertion that perceived rejection or neglect by parents is a dominant factor in maladaptive adolescent outcomes such as aggression. The study underscores the need for interventions addressing parental neglect, including parenting education programs, counseling services, and community resources, to mitigate the impact on adolescents.
Recommended Citation
Boyd, Chemarin Eve, "Relationship Between Parental Neglect, Socioeconomic Status, and Aggression in Adolescents" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 17006.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17006
