Effects Of Machiavellianism On Adolescent Conduct Problems:1-year Follow-up Study

Objective: Using longitudinal study to explore the impact of hyperactivity problems on conduct problems in adolescents,meanwhile examine whether Machiavellianism and emotional symptoms play an intermediary role between them.Using cross-sectional data to explore the impact of life events on emotional symptoms,Conduct problems and peer relations in adolescents,meanwhile examine whether Machiavellianism play a regulatory role between them.Methods: A total of 541 middle school students from two secondary schools were sampled by random cluster sampling in Zhengzhou City.Kiddie Machiavellianism Scale(KMS),Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire(SDQ)and Adolescent self-rating life events check list(ASLEC)were measured,which lasted one year,followed up twice and collected and sorted out valid data.Use SPSS22.0 for statistical data analysis.The main statistical methods used include t test,Pearson correlation analysis,Fisher Z test,stratified regression analysis,mediation effect test and regulatory effect test.Result:(1)The scores of female emotional symptoms were significantly higher than those of male(p <0.01)in two time periods,and the scores of male conduct problems were significantly higher than that of female(p <0.01).The male peer relationship problems were significantly higher than that of female only in the second time period(P <0.01).The scores of Machiavellianism personality traits increased significantly with age(p <0.01).The score of emotional symptoms,the score of peer relationship problems and the total score of difficulty subscales decreased significantly with age(p <0.01).(2)Expect peer relationship problems,Machiavellianism showed a significant positive correlation with other subscales of the difficult scale over time and across time.Fisher's test shows that in the male group,the correlation coefficient between Machiavellian T2 and the conduct problem T2,the correlation coefficient betweenMachiavellian T1 and the conduct problem T2,and the Machiavellian T2 and peer relationship problem T2 were significantly greater than that of women.(3)The crossing lag analysis shows that in man,hyperactivity problem T1 can predict Machiavellianism T2;Machiavellianism T1 predicts the conduct problems T2.(4)In man,Machiavellianism and emotional symptoms play a medium role in the relationship between hyperactivity problems and conduct problems.(5)Except that the positive correlation between life events and peer problems did not reach significant level(p> 0.05),there were significant positive correlations(p <0.01)between life events and Machiavellianism and other difficult subscales.(6)Machiavellianism plays a regulatory role in the relationship between life events and emotional symptoms,conduct problems,and peer relationship problems.Conclusion:(1)Women have more emotional problems and fewer peer relationship problems,while men have more conduct problems and peer relationship problems.With the increase of age,the trend of adolescent Machiavellianism becomes more and more obvious;at the same time,the internalizing and externalizing problems of adolescents have dropped.(2)From the point of view of mental health,Machiavellianism trait has a loss to individual mental health,which leads to more emotional symptoms,conduct problems,etc.However,Machiavellianism antisocial behavior is hidden.Therefore,does not affect people's fellowship.In addition,because of the differences between men's and women's life history strategy,Machiavellianism trait as a kind of fast life history strategy shows more conduct problems among men.(3)Hyperactivity problems can lead to the emergence of Machiavellianism personality;the personality of Machiavellianism means that individuals have more conduct problems.Hyperactivity problems can give birth to Machiavellianism convictions,which lead to conduct problems through emotional symptoms.(4)Life events are strongly associated with emotional symptoms,conductproblems and Machiavellianism.Machiavellianism has social information processing bias and the higher sensitivity of social information,which shows more emotional symptoms,conduct problems and peer relationship problems in the face of life events.