Aggression-Victimization in Middle-Low Income Students in Turkey: Empathy Level, Gender, and Grade Level Differences.

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze aggression-victimization differentiation in middle-school students by empathy level, gender, and grade level. A total of 260 students living in a middle-low-socioeconomic region of Ankara, Turkey, participated in the study (mean age = 12.89, standard deviation = 0.96). Results indicated that the students were more likely to be victims of violent behaviors rather than being aggressors. We found a high probability that victims could become aggressors or vice versa. There were no significant differences between empathy and victimization-aggression. Besides, the results revealed that boys were more prone to being victims and aggressors, especially concerning physical-verbal aggression and harming properties. However, girls were more likely to be victims of isolation and-to a lesser extent-verbal aggression. We discussed these results in light of literature.