Can School Connection Moderate the Impact of Violent Friends on Adolescent's Tendency to Violence?

This research aimed at evaluating the moderator role of school connection on the impact of violent friends on tendency to violent behaviors in adolescent students of Tehran high schools. A sample consisted of 3529 participants from Tehran high school students population selected using multi stage sampling. Participants completed School Connection Questionnaire (SCQ), Iranian Adolescents Risk-Taking Scale (IARS), and demographic questionnaire. Data analyzed by regression analysis. School connection affected male and female students differently. In males, school commitment and belonging to school (two dimensions of school connection) reduced the impact of friends` violent behaviors on participants` tendency to violence. But in females, being influenced by friends` violent behavior acted independently of school connection. Preventive program in this field should consider gender differences. In males, enhancing school commitment and belonging to school might reduce tendency to violence in spite of the violent behavior of friends. But in females, probably efficient disciplines to prevent conducting violent behaviors in school or helping girls to find nonviolent friends might reduce tendency to violent behaviors.