Aggressiveness of adolescents and negative life events in the light of comparative studies on adolescents in correctional facilities and high schools

The article presents an analysis of the results of research carried out among minors staying in rehabilitation facilities (the criterion group) and among high school students who comply with legal standards (the control group). The aim of the conducted research was to analyze the existing differences and relations between negative life events and the general level of aggressiveness and its aspects (physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility). The research tools applied include: The Questionnaire and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. The research was of quantitative nature. The data analysis using the Student’s t-test and the Chi-square test showed a number of significant differences in the severity of the general level of aggressiveness and its aspects and in the occurrence of negative life events between the research groups. The analysis of correlations using the Pearson’s r coefficient between negative life events and aggressiveness (and its aspects) revealed significant relations between variables only in the group of youth from rehabilitation facilities. On the other hand, regression analysis in the group of minors from rehabilitation facilities showed that the most important predictors determining the increase in aggressiveness (and its aspects) are the negative life events relating primarily to the school environment. Factors relating to one’s own or a relative’s illness and being a victim of domestic violence or a victim of crime have also proved to be important