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Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.

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  • Director: Laura E. Gómez Sánchez
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Depression and aggressive behaviour in adolescents offenders and non-offenders

Anna Llorca Mestre, Elisabeth Malonda Vidal and Paula Samper García

Universitat de València

Background: Adolescent behaviour is strongly linked to emotions. The aim of this study is 1) analyse the differences between young offenders and non-offenders in emotional instability, anger, aggressive behaviour, anxiety and depression, and also the differences according to sex; and 2) compare the relation between emotional instability and anxiety, depression and aggressive behaviour mediated or modulated by anger in both groups. Method: participants are 440 adolescents, both male and female (15-18 years old). 220 were young offenders from four different correctional centres of the Valencia Region. The other 220 participants were randomly chosen from ten public and private schools in the Valencia metropolitan area. In the Schools the instruments were applied collectively in the classroom, with a 50 minutes maximum duration.  In the Youth Detention Centre the application was carried out in small groups. Results: The structural equation model (SEM) carried out on each group, young offenders and non-offenders show a relation between the assessed variables. Emotional instability appears strongly related with anger in both samples, but anger just predicts depression and aggressive behaviour in the offender population. Conclusions: The results give relevant information for treatment and prevention of aggressive behaviour and delinquency in teenagers through emotional regulation.

Depresión y agresividad en adolescentes delincuentes y no delincuentes. Antecedentes: la conducta adolescente está fuertemente determinada por las emociones. El objetivo es: 1) analizar las diferencias entre los jóvenes infractores y los no infractores en inestabilidad emocional, ira, comportamiento agresivo, ansiedad y depresión, así como las diferencias según el sexo; y 2) comparar la relación entre inestabilidad emocional y ansiedad, depresión y comportamiento agresivo mediado o modulado por la ira en ambos grupos. Método: participaron  440 varones y mujeres (15-18 años), 220 adolescentes delincuentes procedentes de cuatro Centros de Menores de la Comunidad Valenciana. Los 220 restantes fueron seleccionados aleatoriamente de diez centros públicos y concertados de Valencia. En los centros escolares los instrumentos se aplicaron colectivamente en el aula. En el Centro de Detención Juvenil, la aplicación se realizó en pequeños grupos. Resultados: los Modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales realizados para cada uno de los grupos muestran que la inestabilidad emocional aparece fuertemente relacionada con la ira en ambas muestras, pero la ira únicamente predice la depresión y la agresividad en la población delincuente. Conclusiones: los resultados aportan información relevante para el tratamiento y la prevención de la agresividad y la delincuencia en la adolescencia a través de la regulación emocional, especialmente el de la ira.

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