The role of contextual factors, school-related attitudes and behavioural traits on lifetime antisocial behaviours among adolescents.

INTRODUCTION

Antisocial behaviour is a result of a multifactorial process that involves both social-level and individual-level factors. The present study aims to investigate the association of contextual factors with the odds of engaging in antisocial behaviours, and to explore the role of school-related attitudes and behavioural traits in the association between contextual factors and antisocial behaviour among 12- to 14-year-old adolescents.

METHODS

The analytical sample included 1847 students of 29 secondary schools in Italy who participated in the baseline survey of the "GAPUnplugged" study. The associations of sociodemographic characteristics, contextual factors, school-related attitudes and behavioural traits with the odds of adolescent's antisocial behaviour were estimated through multilevel mixed-effect models. Exploratory indirect association models were performed to test the potential mediation role of school-related attitudes and behavioural traits in the relationship between contextual factors and adolescent's antisocial behaviour.

RESULTS

The prevalence of at least one antisocial behaviour lifetime was 61.2%, of two 39% and of three or more antisocial behaviours 21.8%. Among contextual factors, perceived parental permissiveness to use substances, low perceived parental support, low perceived class climate, and perceptions of peer's cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use were associated with higher odds of antisocial behaviour. Low pupil's respect for teacher, high impulsiveness and sensation-seeking scores were significant indirect correlates of most contextual factors on antisocial behaviours.

CONCLUSION

Contextual factors, school-related attitudes and behavioural traits have a strong influence on antisocial behaviours in adolescence. All these factors should be considered in prevention interventions aimed at reducing or preventing antisocial behaviour among early adolescents.