Risk for Being a Teen Parent: The Influence of Proactive and Reactive Aggression in a Sample of Latino Adolescents

In order to better understand the link between aggression and risk for teen parenting, the current study evaluated the link between proactive and reactive functions of aggression and teen parenting in a sample of 142 Latino high school students (53.5 % male; Mean age = 16.24 years, SD = 1.47) residing in the United States. Additionally, peer rejection was examined as a moderator of these associations, and gender differences in associations were evaluated. Approximately 11 % of the sample reported being a teen parent. Correlation analyses suggested that both proactive and reactive aggression were associated with increased risk for being a teen parent, with the magnitude of the association stronger for proactive than reactive aggression. Further, when associations were simultaneously examined, only proactive aggression was uniquely associated with risk for teen pregnancy, and peer rejection does not appear to play a role in these associations for males or females. Findings suggest that proactive aggression needs to be targeted for the prevention of teen parenting. Recommendations for intervention strategies are discussed.