Loss within the family, adolescent anger, and adolescent problem behavior

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among loss within the family, adolescent anger, and adolescent problem behavior by testing three models: a direct model, an indirect (mediating) model, and a moderating model. Loss within the family was defined as a family event that was outside of the adolescent's control, was unwanted, and involved the contraction of the family (such as parental separation/divorce and parental/sibling death). Adolescent problem behavior was limited to externalized problem behavior (such as drug use and school problems).; The conceptual frameworks used were family systems theory and attachment theory. This study was a secondary analysis of an existing data set. The sample consisted of 411 senior high school students. A self-report questionnaire was used. Data analysis involved the use of multiple regression analyses.; The findings indicated that loss within the family was directly related to adolescent problem behavior for the whole sample and for both genders. Loss within the family was indirectly related to adolescent problem behavior through adolescent anger for the whole sample only. There were gender differences with the moderating model. For females with high anger, there was a relationship between loss in the family and adolescent problem behavior, whereas for males and females with low anger, this relationship was not present. This may indicate that females with high trait anger may react to loss within the family in a highly reactive way by exhibiting problem behaviors. The relationships among the variables were weak (as with previous research using similar variables).; Each model represented a different process through which loss within the family was related to adolescent problem behavior. This was recognized as a first step at theorizing, identifying, and testing three models that included variables involving the family environment, an adolescent emotion, and adolescent problem behavior.