Structural relationship between self-esteem and general health with aggressive behavior in runaway girls

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and mental health with aggressive behavior in runaway girls in Karaj (Iran).
This study was a descriptive correlational research. Data were collected from 120 runaway girls living under supervision of the state welfare organization of the city of Karaj (N=500) by random. Coopersmith selfesteem inventory 1967, Goldberg's general health questionnaire 1972 and aggression scale of Anthony Storr 1988 were utilized to assess the variables.
There was a significant negative correlation between self-esteem and anger expression in runaway girls and mental health variable was significantly correlated with anger expression. Furthermore, results of the analysis indicated that the data fitted well with the presented model. The path coefficients showed that the variables of social and educational self-esteem, peers, and variables of somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, social inefficiency can predict anger expression in runaway girls.
The results suggest that runaway girls suffer from low self-esteem and mental health due to various factors such as family problems which could lead to aggressive behavior in them. Therefore, skills trainings such as anger management, stress management, and efficient problem solving skills can help them to elevate their self-esteem and mental health.