(Social skills, aggressive behavior and socioeconomic contex. A comparative study with adolescents of Tucuman (Argentina))

Abstract

Social skills are social behaviour which contributes to social competence. Aggressive behaviour shows deficiencies in the effectiveness of social interactions. The aim of this study was to compare social skills and aggressive behaviour in a group of 12- to 17-year-old adolescents from different socioeconomic levels (SEL) who attend school in the Great San Miguel de Tucumán (Argentina). A non-experimental cross-sectional descriptive design was used. The purposive sampling was 1208 adolescents. The BAS-3 Socialization Battery, the Antisocial Behaviour Questionnaire (CC-A) and a sociodemographic survey were used. Pearson’s r and Stutent’s t were used in independent groups.18% of adolescents showed aggressive behaviour, even though the SEL did not affect such behaviour. Adolescents of low SEL showed more self-control and leadership skills than their peers with high SEL. However, this group also presented deficits in isolation and social anxiety/shyness. Those adolescents who were more aggressive appeared to have poorer skills of consideration with others and self-control. The results provide useful information for the local area to design programmes that improve assertive social skills.