GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY DYSFUNCTION AND AGGRESSION IN A SAMPLE OF AT-RISK YOUTH

<p>Youth with antisocial and borderline traits in adolescence have been found more likely to commit violence and experience negative outcomes later in life. There is evidence for gender differences in the manifestations of dysfunctional personality features (antisocial and borderline traits) and functions of aggression, but little research has sought to assess unique gender differences that may help unravel the sequelae of personality dysfunction in youth. Accordingly, this exploratory study examines gender differences in associations between antisocial features, borderline features, and proactive and reactive functions of aggression in a sample of at-risk youth. Four hundred and sixty-four adolescents (M_age = 16.75 years, 84.9% male) participating in a military-style bootcamp for at-risk 16- to 18- year-olds self-reported Antisocial Features (ANT), Borderline Features (BOR), and the forms and functions of aggression. This study contributes to the literature by assessing antisocial features, borderline features, and forms and functions of aggression in this sample of at-risk youth, determining how dysfunctional personality features relate to aggression, and identifying novel gender differences in these constructs and associations among them. These findings may be useful for understanding the experiences of at-risk adolescents and identifying opportunities to disrupt negative outcomes in these youth. Limitations and further directions will be discussed herein.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• O'Dell, Chloe

Contributors dc:contributor

• Nora Charles
• Eric Dahlen
• Freddie Pastrana Rivera

• gender differences; personality; aggression; adolescents; borderline; antisocial
• Child Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Personality and Social Contexts

Repository record dc:identifier

https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/970

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:aquila.usm.edu:masters_theses-2044