A relationship between aggressive behavior, peer relationship and self-efficacy among middle school students

The main aim of this study is to determine the peer relations and self-efficacy and predict the levels of aggression of secondary school students. The study also investigated whether aggression scores vary according to gender and class level. The sample of the study included 661 students in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades in Buca, İzmir. In this research "Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questinnaire", 'Self-Efficacy Scale for Children' 'Peer Relationship Scale' are used to collect data. In this research, "Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questinnaire" and "Problem Solving Inventory for Children" are used to collect data. Pearson correlations analysis, stepwise multiple regression analysis, t-test and variance analysis are used for data analyzing. And LSD testing techniques were used to compare groups in two cases where variance analysis was significant. As a result of the study, it was found that peer relations and self-efficacy were significant predictors of aggression and these variables explained 27.9% of the aggression. There are also statistically significant differences in terms of gender and class level. These findings are discussed in the light of other research results in the literature.