Motor skill and physical self-concept as predictors of different attitudes toward violence in secondary school students: a gender-differentiated analysis

This study explores the role of motor skill and physical self-concept as predictors of attitudes toward violence in 312 secondary students. We found that males had higher values than females on all attitudes toward violence. Particularly, frequency of peer-bullying and motor skill predicted attitudes toward violence as amusement in males, while frequency of peer-bullying predicted these attitudes in females. Attitudes toward violence as a form of self-esteem were predicted by frequency of peer-bullying in females, while attitudes toward violence as a social skill were predicted by frequency of peer-bullying and motor skill in males. Finally, attitudes toward violence perceived as legitimate were predicted by motor skill, academic performance, and perceived strength in males, and by the frequency of peer-bullying and motor skill in females.