Linking economic hardship to adolescent aggression

The relationship between economic hardship and adolescent aggression has been explored from various perspectives. Using survey and observational data on two-parent families in a midwestern rural county, the study identifies four important mechanisms that link economic hardship to the aggressive behavior of adolescents. Economic pressure stemming from low income, financial loss, and unstable work, adversely affects the marital relationship through the negativity of fathers. Negative marital interactions increase irritable parenting, making adolescent aggression more likely.This paper is based on collaborative research involving the Iowa Youth and Families Project at Iowa State University, Ames, and the Social Change Project at University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill. The combined research effort is currently supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH43270), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA05347), the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Program for Successful Adolescence, the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health (MCJ-109572), and a Research Scientist Award (MH00567).Ph.D. in sociology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Research focuses on the experience of adolescents in the changing rural economy.Ph.D. in sociology from University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill. Research focuses on life course development, particularly the short- and long-term consequences of economic hardship and military service on individual lives.Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Washington. Research focuses on family relationships in the context of social change.