What Factors Can Prevent Girls From Engaging in Aggression and Violence?
Various protective factors can help girls at risk to avoid exhibiting aggressive and violent behaviour.63 Individual protective factors: An intelligent girl with solid self-esteem, who believes that she is a capable person and who is able to take on age-appropriate social and personal responsibilities, is not likely to become aggressive or violent. Family protective factors: Within the family, variables that support girls use of assertive rather than aggressive behaviour include positive exposure to social situations; the presence of at least one caring and supportive adult; positive relationships with parents, especially mothers; and effective, non-authoritarian parenting. School/community protective factors: At the school and neighbourhood level, variables that help to prevent or counter aggression and violence in girls include opportunities for education, achievement, personal growth and employment, as well as feelings of connectedness to the local community. Efforts to prevent or c
