2012 - Volume 36, Number 7 Editor, Karen Weller Swanson, Ed.D.,
Mercer University The Role of Sociability Self-Concept in the
Relationship between Exposure to and Concern about Aggression in
Middle School |Janice Williams Miller Oklahoma State University
This study examined middle grades students' sociability self-
concept and their perceptions about feeling safe at school.
Participants' (N = 420) exposure to school aggression and
concern about the potential for violence at school were measured
across four critical areas: fighting, bullying, stealing, and
seeing weapons. Results indicated a limited exposure to school
aggression for these young adolescents. However, students who
did report seeing more aggression at school also tended to be
more concerned about aggressive incidents occurring. The
prediction of concern by exposure was stronger among students
low in sociability self-concept and weaker for those high in
sociability self-concept. Sociability selfconcept, thus,
appeared to be a protective factor, in