Effects of Aggression Replacement Training on Problem Solving, Anger and Aggressive Behaviour among Adolescents with Criminal Attempts in Turkey: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

The research was conducted by a pretest and post-test conducted in a quasi-experimental design which aimed to determine effectiveness of Aggression Replacement Training (ART) on problem solving, anger and aggressive behaviour among adolescents with criminal attempts in Turkey. The study included 65 adolescents with criminal attempts (32 intervention, 33 control). There was no difference between the groups in terms of average age (16.13 +/- 1.10 in the experimental group and 16.21 +/- 0.89 in the control group). After the intervention, the experimental group showed significantly decreased Trait Anger levels (t = 1.906; P = 0.033), increased Anger Control scores (t = 2.522; P = 0.008), decreased Physical Aggression scores (t = 1.925; P = 0.031), decreased Hostility scores (t = 2.496; P = 0.009), increased Social Problem Solving total scores (t = 2.937; P = 0.005). Increased Anger Control scores were found to be significant when compared with the control group (t = 2.273, P = 0.026). These results showed that ART was effective on problem solving, anger and aggressive behaviour and can be used to develop positive behaviours among adolescents with criminal attempts. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.