Victimisation and school violence. The role of the motivation of revenge, avoidance, and benevolence in adolescents

Abstract The aim of the present study is to explore the relation among school victimisation and school violence, taking into account the motivations of revenge, avoidance, and benevolence. The sample includes 671 adolescents of both sexes, between 10 and 16 years old, attending primary and secondary school. The structural equation model, calculated with EQS software, show that victimisation is directly and indirectly related to school violence through revenge motivation. Victimisation is also related to avoidance and benevolence motivations, although these are not associated with school violence. Multigroup analysis indicates statistically significant differences between boys and girls in the relation between victimisation and benevolence. Finally, results and their implications are discussed in order to design interventions focused on aggressive victims.