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OBJECTIVE: We investigated relationships between the triarchic model of psychopathy, coping styles, and externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and verified the mediating effect of coping styles. METHODS: Participants were 957 adults responding to the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure, Inventory of depression and anxiety symptoms expanded version, and Crime and Analogous Behavior Scale. RESULTS: Data were analyzed using four path analyses to test our hypothesis, indicating each triarchic trait is differently associated with psychological symptoms and coping styles. We also observed the preference for some coping styles affecting the association between triarchic traits and psychological symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that coping styles affect only the associations between boldness*distress and boldness*fear, indicating that specific coping strategies can account for variations in distress and fear linked to boldness.
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OBJECTIVE: We investigated relationships between the triarchic model of psychopathy, coping styles, and externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and verified the mediating effect of coping styles. METHODS: Participants were 957 adults responding to the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure, Inventory of depression and anxiety symptoms expanded version, and Crime and Analogous Behavior Scale. RESULTS: Data were analyzed using four path analyses to test our hypothesis, indicating each triarchic trait is differently associated with psychological symptoms and coping styles. We also observed the preference for some coping styles affecting the association between triarchic traits and psychological symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that coping styles affect only the associations between boldness*distress and boldness*fear, indicating that specific coping strategies can account for variations in distress and fear linked to boldness.
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Antisocial behavior (AB) is a complex phenomenon, predicted by a wide range of biological, environmental, and personality factors. These have high human and economic costs especially in adolescents, highlighting the importance of investigating factors that may be associated with these behaviors. Among the most potent predictors of AB are early life experiences and personality. To this end, the present study sought to investigate the association between early life parental abuse and behavioral activation system (BAS) personality traits assessed within the reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) framework and antisocial behaviors in Mexican adolescents. Our sample consisted of 342 adolescents (Mage = 17, SD = 2.47) from northwestern Mexico. Participants, after parental consent and participant consent/assent (if minors), self-reported early life parental abuse, current BAS personality traits, and antisocial behaviors. Through structural equation models, our results suggest there is a positive association between early life parental abuse and antisocial behaviors, as well as a negative association with BAS personality traits (R2 = 37%). These results contribute to the current literature by suggesting that personality and environmental variables can predict adolescent antisocial behaviors. Future studies should explore the interplay between these variables longitudinally and investigate both risk and protective factors, as well as negative and positive outcomes.
Assuntos
Comportamento do Adolescente , Transtorno da Personalidade Antissocial , Adolescente , Transtorno da Personalidade Antissocial/epidemiologia , Humanos , México/epidemiologia , PersonalidadeRESUMO
Violence in schools is a global issue. Approximately 32% of Mexican students have experienced some form of violence in the school setting in their lives. Previous research has tended to focus on the causes of violence and antisocial behaviors in offenders or adolescent samples and has found evidence to suggest the underlying role of environmental and personal factors. The present study investigates the effect of positive school environment and agreeableness as protective factors against antisocial behaviors in a sample of undergraduate and graduate students (n = 304) from northwestern Mexico. Our results demonstrate that a positive school environment has a negative effect on antisocial behaviors via mood and anxiety disorders as well as in interaction with agreeableness, suggesting an interplay between personality and environment. These findings can provide some basis for the development of university programs aimed at fostering positive environments that promote student mental health and protect against antisocial behaviors.
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Resumo Contar com uma medida psicometricamente adequada para a avaliação dos comportamentos moralmente relevantes de atletas é importante para fomentar pesquisas e viabilizar estratégias de intervenção eficazes. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi estimar propriedades psicométricas da Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior Sport Scale (PABSS) para o contexto brasileiro. A amostra foi composta por 360 atletas de ambos os sexos (idade média 16.1 ± 3.61; 64.7 % homens). A análise fatorial exploratória indicou a pertinência da estrutura composta por quatro fatores: (1) comportamento pró-social direcionado aos companheiros de equipe (CPC); (2) comportamento pró-social direcionado aos adversários (CPA); (3) comportamento antissocial direcionado aos companheiros de equipe (CAC); (4) comportamento antissocial direcionado aos adversários (CAA), explicando conjuntamente 66.1 % da variância total, o que corrobora a hipótese teórica. Adicionalmente, a análise fatorial semiconfirmatória apresentou comprovação do modelo composto por quatro fatores: [(X1 = 126.685, gl = 116. p = .234; X2/gl = 1.09; CFI = 0.998 (IC 95 % = 0.997-0.999); GFI = 0.991 (IC 95 % = 0.997- 0.999); RMSEA = 0.018 (IC 95 °% = 0.016-0.020)]. Todos os fatores apresentaram índices desejáveis de consistência interna, alfa de Cronbach superiores a .78 e ômega de Mcdonald superiores a .88. Também foram observadas as associações entre comportamento moral e valores no esporte. Conclui-se que a versão brasileira da PABSS reúne evidências psicométricas adequadas, podendo ser utilizada em estudos futuros.
Resumen Contar con una medida psicométrica apropiada para evaluar los comportamientos moralmente relevantes de los atletas es importante para fomentar la investigación y permitir estrategias de intervención efectivas. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estimar las propiedades psicométricas de la Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior Sport Scale (PABSS) para el contexto brasileño. La muestra consistió en 360 atletas de ambos sexos (promedio de edad 16.1 ± 3.61; 64.7 % hombres). El análisis factorial exploratorio indicó la relevancia de la estructura que consta de cuatro factores: (1) Comportamiento prosocial dirigido a compañeros de equipo (CPC); (2) Comportamiento prosocial dirigido a oponentes (CPA); (3) Comportamiento antisocial dirigido a compañeros de equipo (CAC); (4) Comportamiento antisocial dirigido a oponentes (CAA), explicando conjuntamente el 66.1 % de la varianza total, lo que corrobora la hipótesis teórica. Además, el análisis factorial semiconfirmatorio mostró pruebas del modelo compuesto por cuatro factores: [(X2 = 126.685, gl = 116, p = .234; X2/gl = 1.09; CFI = 0.99 (IC 95% = 0.997-0.999); GFI = 0.99 (IC 95 % = 0.997-0.999); RMSEA = 0.018 (IC 95 % = 0.016-0.020)]. Todos los factores tenían índices de consistencia interna alfa de Cronbach deseables mayores a 0.78 y omega de McDonald mayores a 0.88. También se observaron asociaciones entre el comportamiento moral y los valores en el deporte. En conclusión, la versión brasileña del PABSS reúne evidencia psicométrica adecuada y puede ser utilizada en futuros estudios.
Abstract Having an appropriate psychometric measure for assessing the morally relevant behaviors of athletes is important to encourage research and enable effective intervention strategies. The aim of this research was to verify the psychometric properties of the Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors Sport Scale (PABSS) for the Brazilian context. The sample consisted of 360 athletes of both sexes (average age 16.1±3.61; 64.7% men). The exploratory factorial analysis indicated the adequacy of the structure comprising four factors: 1) Prosocial behavior directed to teammates (CPC) 2) Prosocial behavior directed to opponents (CPA); (3) Anti-social behavior directed to teammates (CAC); (4) Anti-social behavior directed to opponents (CAA), which jointly explains 66.1% of the total variance, thus corroborating the theoretical hypothesis. In addition, Semi-confirmatory Factor Analysis showed evidence of the four-factor model: [(X2= 126.685, gl= 116, p = .234; X2/gl= 1.09; CFI= 0.99 (IC 95%= 0.997-0.999); GFI= 0.99 (IC 95% = 0.997- 0.999); RMSEA= 0.018 (IC 95%= 0.016-0.020)]. All factors had desirable internal consistency indexes of Cronbach's alpha greater than 0.78 and McDonald's Omega greater than 0.80. Associations between moral behavior and values in sports were also observed. In conclusion, the Brazilian version of the PABSS presented adequate psychometric evidence and can be used in future studies.
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As the identification and targeting of salient risk factors for adolescent substance use become more widely used globally, an essential question arises as to whether U.S.-based cut points in the distributions of these risk factors that identify "high" risk can be used validly in other countries as well. This study examined proportions of youth at "high" risk using different empirically derived cut points in the distributions of 18 measured risk factors. Data were obtained from large-scale samples of adolescents in Colombia and the United States. Results indicated that significant (p < 0.05) differences in the proportions of "high" risk youth were found in 38.9% of risk factors for 6th graders, 61.1% for 8th graders, and 66.6% for 10th graders. Colombian-based cut points for determining the proportion of Colombian youth at "high" risk were preferable to U.S.-based cut points in almost all comparisons that exhibited a significant difference. Our findings suggest that observed differences were related to the type of risk factor (e.g., drug specific vs. non-drug specific). Findings from this study demonstrate the need for collecting large-scale national data on risk factors for adolescent substance use and developing country-specific cut points based on the distributions of these measures to avoid misidentification of youth at "high" risk.
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Comportamento do Adolescente , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias , Adolescente , Transtorno da Personalidade Antissocial , Colômbia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Fatores de Risco , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologia , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Diversos estudos experimentais têm evidenciado a influência do estadoafetivo, genericamente entendido, e emocional, em especificidade, noprocessamento cognitivo. Nesta sequência, tivemos como objetivo analisar oefeito da pré-exposição a estímulos de diferentes valências afetivas - negativa,positiva e neutra - na operação cognitiva de estimação de magnitudenumérica da severidade de comportamentos antissociais. Participaram 37 estudantes universitários do mesmo grupo turma, do gênero feminino, entreos 18 e os 24 anos de idade, M = 19.53; DP = 1.06. Foram distribuídas aleatoriamente por três condições experimentais, definidas pela valência dos estímulos: negativa, positiva e neutra. Seguidamente, visualizaram um conjunto de 18 imagens - do IAPS - da valência da respetiva condição experimental, registrando na Self Assessment Manikin o estado afetivo que as imagens produziam. Após um intervalo de quatro minutos, as participantes estimaram a gravidade de 15 comportamentos antissociais. Os resultados indicaram que a pré-exposição de valência negativa teve um efeito significativo de diminuição da estimação da severidade dos comportamentos antissociais, comparativamente como os restantes grupos. Finalmente,procuramos na hipótese da dessensibilização emocional a compreensão dos resultados.
Several experimental studies have emphasized the influence of the affectivestate, generically understood, and emotional state, in specificity, in cognitive processing. In this sequence, we aimed to analyze the effect of pre-exposure to stimuli of different valences negative, positive and neutral in the cognitive operation of numerical magnitude estimation of antisocial behavior. 37 female university students took part in this study, all from the same class aged between 18 and 24 years, M = 19.53, SD = 1.06. They were randomly distributed in three experimental conditions related to the stimulus valence: negative, positive, and neutral. The participants viewed a series of 18 picturesof the International Affective Picture System of the respective experimental condition, registering into the Self Assessment Manikin the affective state that the images produced. After four minutes of interval, the participants estimated the severity of 15 antisocial behaviors. The results indicated that the negative valence pre- exposure had a significant effect of decreasing the estimation of the severity of antisocial behaviors, comparatively with the other groups. Finally, we discussed the results according to the hypothesis of emotional desensitization.
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Humanos , Feminino , Adulto Jovem , AfetoRESUMO
Diversos estudos experimentais têm evidenciado a influência do estado afetivo, genericamente entendido, e emocional, em especificidade, no processamento cognitivo. Nesta sequência, tivemos como objetivo analisar o efeito da pré-exposição a estímulos de diferentes valências afetivas - negativa,positiva e neutra - na operação cognitiva de estimação de magnitude numérica da severidade de comportamentos antissociais. Participaram 37 estudantes universitários do mesmo grupo turma, do gênero feminino, entre os 18 e os 24 anos de idade, M = 19.53; DP = 1.06. Foram distribuídas aleatoriamente por três condições experimentais, definidas pela valência dos estímulos: negativa, positiva e neutra. Seguidamente, visualizaram um conjunto de 18 imagens - do IAPS - da valência da respetiva condição experimental, registrando na Self Assessment Manikin o estado afetivo que as imagens produziam. Após um intervalo de quatro minutos, as participantes estimaram a gravidade de 15 comportamentos antissociais. Os resultados indicaram que a pré-exposição de valência negativa teve um efeito significativo de diminuição da estimação da severidade dos comportamentos antissociais, comparativamente como os restantes grupos. Finalmente,procuramos na hipótese da dessensibilização emocional a compreensão dos resultados.
Several experimental studies have emphasized the influence of the affectivestate, generically understood, and emotional state, in specificity, in cognitive processing. In this sequence, we aimed to analyze the effect of pre-exposure to stimuli of different valences negative, positive and neutral in the cognitive operation of numerical magnitude estimation of antisocial behavior. 37 female university students took part in this study, all from the same class aged between 18 and 24 years, M = 19.53, SD = 1.06. They were randomly distributed in three experimental conditions related to the stimulus valence: negative, positive, and neutral. The participants viewed a series of 18 picturesof the International Affective Picture System of the respective experimental condition, registering into the Self Assessment Manikin the affective state that the images produced. After four minutes of interval, the participants estimated the severity of 15 antisocial behaviors. The results indicated that the negative valence pre- exposure had a significant effect of decreasing the estimation of the severity of antisocial behaviors, comparatively with the other groups. Finally, we discussed the results according to the hypothesis of emotional desensitization.
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Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Comportamento Social , AfetoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The current study examined (a) the mediating role of parenting behaviors in the relationship between parental risks and youth antisocial behaviors (YASB), and (b) the role of youth cultural stress in a racial/ethnic minority group (i.e., Puerto Rican [PR] youth). METHOD: This longitudinal study consisted of 3 annual interviews of PR youth (N = 1,150; aged 10-14 years at wave 1) and their caretakers from the South Bronx (SB) in New York City and from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Parents reported on parental risks, parenting behaviors, and YASB. Youth also self-reported on YASB and youth cultural stress. A lagged structural equation model examined the relationship between these variables across 3 yearly waves, with youth cultural stress as a moderator of the association between effective parenting behaviors and YASB. RESULTS: Findings supported the positive influence of effective parenting on YASB, independently of past parental risks and past YASB: higher effective parenting significantly predicted lower YASB at the following wave. Parenting also accounted for (mediated) the association between the composite of parental risks and YASB. Youth cultural stress at wave 1 was cross-sectionally associated with higher YASB and moderated the prospective associations between effective parenting and YASB, such that for youth who perceived higher cultural stress, the positive effect of effective parenting on YASB was weakened compared to those with lower/average cultural stress. CONCLUSION: Among PR families, both parental and cultural risk factors influence YASB. Such findings should be considered when treating racial/ethnic minority youth for whom cultural factors may be a relevant influence on determining behaviors.
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Transtorno da Conduta/etnologia , Cultura , Hispânico ou Latino/psicologia , Grupos Minoritários/psicologia , Poder Familiar/psicologia , Assunção de Riscos , Estresse Psicológico/etnologia , Adolescente , Criança , Transtorno da Conduta/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Modelos Psicológicos , Modelos Estatísticos , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Estudos Prospectivos , Porto Rico/etnologia , Estresse Psicológico/psicologiaRESUMO
A violência tem atingido a população mais jovem do país. Baixo nível socioeconômico e ser do sexo masculino são fatores que têm sido apontados em associação à presença de comportamentos delitivos. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar autorreferências de condutas antissociais e delitivas em adolescentes, verificando diferenças quanto às variáveis: sexo, grau de ensino e inserção em escolas públicas ou privadas. Foram participantes 453 adolescentes, 13 a 19 anos, ambos os sexos, estudantes do ensino fundamental II e médio, de seis escolas da Baixada Santista (SP). Foi utilizada a Escala de Condutas Antissociais e Delitivas e feita análise descritiva e inferencial dos dados. Os resultados indicaram baixa autopercepção de manifestação de comportamentos antissociais e delitivos em toda amostra. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas, para maior, nos meninos e em escolas privadas. Ficam sugeridos novos estudos sobre a problemática para subsidiar programas preventivos voltados para o desenvolvimento positivo dos jovens.(AU)
Violence has reached the younger population. Low socioeconomic status and being of male gender are factors that have been identified in association with the presence of criminal behaviors. The present study aimed to assess self references of antisocial and criminal behaviors in adolescents, finding differences in the variables: gender, level of education and inclusion in public or private schools. Participants were 453 adolescents, 13-19 years old, both sexes, middle and high school students, from six schools from Sao Paulo State. AntiSocial and Delictive Behaviors Scale was used and descriptive and inferential data analysis were made. The results indicated low self-perceiving of antisocial and criminal behaviors manifestation across the whole sample. Significant differences were found, for more, in boys and private schools. Further researches are suggested on the problem to support preventive programs for positive youth development.(AU)
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Humanos , Violência , Adolescente , Delinquência Juvenil , Transtorno da Personalidade Antissocial , Transtornos do Comportamento Social , Comportamento PerigosoRESUMO
A violência tem atingido a população mais jovem do país. Baixo nível socioeconômico e ser do sexo masculino são fatores que têm sido apontados em associação à presença de comportamentos delitivos. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar autorreferências de condutas antissociais e delitivas em adolescentes, verificando diferenças quanto às variáveis: sexo, grau de ensino e inserção em escolas públicas ou privadas. Foram participantes 453 adolescentes, 13 a 19 anos, ambos os sexos, estudantes do ensino fundamental II e médio, de seis escolas da Baixada Santista (SP). Foi utilizada a Escala de Condutas Antissociais e Delitivas e feita análise descritiva e inferencial dos dados. Os resultados indicaram baixa autopercepção de manifestação de comportamentos antissociais e delitivos em toda amostra. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas, para maior, nos meninos e em escolas privadas. Ficam sugeridos novos estudos sobre a problemática para subsidiar programas preventivos voltados para o desenvolvimento positivo dos jovens.(AU)
Violence has reached the younger population. Low socioeconomic status and being of male gender are factors that have been identified in association with the presence of criminal behaviors. The present study aimed to assess self references of antisocial and criminal behaviors in adolescents, finding differences in the variables: gender, level of education and inclusion in public or private schools. Participants were 453 adolescents, 13-19 years old, both sexes, middle and high school students, from six schools from Sao Paulo State. AntiSocial and Delictive Behaviors Scale was used and descriptive and inferential data analysis were made. The results indicated low self-perceiving of antisocial and criminal behaviors manifestation across the whole sample. Significant differences were found, for more, in boys and private schools. Further researches are suggested on the problem to support preventive programs for positive youth development.(AU)
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Humanos , Adolescente , Transtorno da Personalidade Antissocial , Violência , Transtorno da Conduta , Adolescente , Relações Interpessoais , Desenvolvimento HumanoRESUMO
El principal objetivo del estudio fue conocer las relaciones entre padres e hijos en la percepción de intención, actuación y juicio de los posibles comportamientos antisociales en el contexto deportivo, valorando en una misma acción deportiva, la moralidad mostrada por ambos significativos y considerando el clima fomentado por los padres en los deportistas para la aparición o no de estas conductas. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 1.420 participantes, 710 deportistas, con edades comprendidas entre los 11 y 16 años (M = 12.76; DE = 1.15) y 710 padres, con edades comprendidas entre los 36 y 49 años (M = 43.56; DE = 2.95), de varios deportes colectivos: fútbol, baloncesto, balonmano y voleibol. Deportistas y padres diligenciaron cuestionarios destinados a valorar la percepción de los jugadores y padres sobre comportamientos antisociales y la percepción del clima motivacional que los padres transmiten a los deportistas. Los resultados muestran una relación significativa entre las variables antisociales en padres e hijos. Asimismo, la presión de los padres emerge como predictor de la intención y actuación de comportamientos antisociales. Finalmente, se indica que una participación adecuada de los padres en la práctica deportiva, supondrá el descenso de comportamientos antisociales por parte de los deportistas.
The main aim of the study was to know the relationships between parents and children with regard to perception of intention, performance and judgment of antisocial behaviors in the sport context, assessing in the same sport action, the morality shown by both significatives. The sample comprised 1420 participants, 710 athletes, ranging in age from 11 to 16 years old (M = 12.76; SD = 1.15), and 710 parents, ranging in age from 36 to 49 years old (M = 43.56; SD = 2.95). Athletes and parents completed questionnaires related to measure perception of players and parents' about antisocial behaviors, as well as perception of motivational climate developed by parents. Results showed a significant relationship among antisocial variables in parents and children. Moreover, parents' pressure emerged as predictor of intention and performance of antisocial behaviors. Finally, it is emphasized that appropriate parental participation in sport practice can promote the decrease of antisocial behaviors in athletes.
Assuntos
Percepção , Psicologia do Esporte , MotivaçãoRESUMO
resumen está disponible en el texto completo
Summary: Antisocial behavior emerges as the result of different factors such as scholar problems, drug consumption, alcoholism, antisocial peer relationships, emotional problems, etc., which may in turn predispose to the individual to develop a pattern of antisocial behavior. The present work aims to determine the association of antisocial behavior between the factors of a bad family environment and mistreatment, and to determine if they can predict the presence of antisocial behaviors in adolescents. Family plays a primary role in the development of a person, especially in adolescent. In recent times, several problems of family disintegration and inadequate parent-child relationships are observed, and it has been described that antisocial personalities may arise from environments with child abuse, economical problems, humiliation, physical punishment and family disintegration. The experience of such emotions during childhood may lead to a severe impairment in the conformation of an emotionally-adapted personality, and may promote a tendency for the commitment of delictive behaviors in the future. It is necessary to close the vicious cycle where mistreated parents mistreat their own children and avoid that the parents who lived unpleasant experiences of hostility, rejection, lack of communication, inestability, etc., repeat these patterns with their children. It is important to revalorize the role of family, its functions and characteristics and the most important, its determinant influence on young people that have behavior problems as antisocial behavior. It is vital to create conscience about the harm that some children, adolescents and even adults have from their negative familial experiences of hostility, aggression, and mistreatment, because these experiences increase the possibilities of delictive behavior in these individuals. Objective. In this context, the present research has its main interest in showing the relationship between past experiences of mistreatment or inadequate familial environments and the presence of antisocial behaviors in adolescents. Method. The present research is supported on results of the Mexico City Survey on drug consumption in 7 th to 12 th grade population carried on October 2003. The total sample of the survey comprised 10659 students. For this research we used 3603 students, that corresponds to the number of students that completed the Form A of the questionnaire, that contained the areas of interest of the study. The questionnaire was previously validated an its main indicators have shown adequate stability in different surveys. This instrument was applied in three different times due to its extension. Total time for its application was of 75 minutes. Raters were trained for the application of the questionnaire. The course lasted 12 hours and included all the theoretical aspects related to addictions, objectives of the study, management of the questionnaire and the instructions for its application in the groups. Results. First of all, a comparative analysis by gender was performed. It was observed that antisocial behaviors were more frequent in men than in women. It is important to mention that men committed this acts in a double frequency than women, specially in terms of severe acts, where 10% of men committed them in contrast to the 3.3% observed in women. Additionally, two factor ANOVA was performed (gender and antisocial behaviors) with the variables of this study, mistreatment and family environment, to determine if there were differences between groups (p<0.05) and significant differences were observed in all the areas of family environment. The interaction analysis of the two factors: gender, act-non acts with family environment showed that for the area of hostility and rejection there were significant differences where women that committed antisocial acts were the ones that reported higher levels of hostility and rejection. In terms of communication of the son/daughter, women that committed antisocial acts were also the ones that reported a lower level of communication. In the area of parent support, women that committed antisocial acts were also the ones that reported the lower levels. In the areas of parent communication and support to the son/daughter, men and women that committed antisocial acts reported less communication and support, respectively. For the area of mistreatment, women reported higher levels of prosocial discipline and negative discipline when compared to men. No significant differences emerged between men an women in the area of severe negative discipline. Also, no significant differences emerged between adolescents that committed antisocial acts and adolescents than do not committed these acts, in terms of prosocial discipline. Nevertheless, adolescents that committed antisocial acts reported higher levels of severe negative discipline. For the analysis of the interaction of the factors gender, acts-non acts in the area of mistreatment, no differences emerged in the area of negative discipline. Significant differences emerge for prosocial discipline, where men that do not committed antisocial acts reported the lowest levels of prosocial discipline. For severe negative discipline, both men and women that committed antisocial acts reported the highest levels. Finally, using logistic regression, we find that the main predictors of antisocial behavior were the presence of high hostility, low level of communication from the children, less child support and the presence of higher negative discipline and negative severe discipline. Communication, parent support and prosocial discipline were not predictive variables for antisocial behavior. Our results support what is described in other studies where family is the main agent of socialization as family teaches the ways of social interaction, values, habit, etc. Furthermore, several studies that evaluated the relationship of the family and antisocial behavior were performed by analyzing the role of the family as a mediator of behavior and society, on the basis that family teaches children rules, abilities and motivations that in some way constitute their cultural and social patterns. We conclude that family environment and mistreatment are factors associated to the presence of antisocial behavior. We must prevent this problem by improving familial relationships and providing a positive family environment to adolescents. In this way, our adolescents may have an adequate development throughout their lives. If an adequate and positive environment is provided during childhood and is maintained through adolescence, with positive affective family relationships, the adolescent may see his/her parents as a guide; a reasonable not arbitrary discipline allows the adolescent to develop a social behavior that leads to an adequate self-control and self-directedness. On the contrary, if the relationships between parents and children are not favorable, the social behavior of the adolescent may be easily impaired and it is very common that these adolescents exhibit severe difficulties for social adaptation.