Results indicated that lower levels of self-restraint predicted higher rates of witnessing violence and victimization. However, witnessing violence and victimization were not related to changes in self-restraint over time. Significant indirect effects of self-restraint on drug use and aggression were found with relation to increased witnessing violence and increased violent victimization. Consistent with past research on rural populations, participants reported high rates of witnessing violence and violent victimization. The findings suggest that witnessing violence and victimization are important factors that partially explain the relationship between self-restraint, drug use, and aggression in rural youth. Future research should investigate protective factors, such as parenting styles and practices that might buffer adolescents against decreases in self-restraint. Participants were 913 sixth grade students attending 4 rural middle schools in the southern United States. Participants completed questionnaires measuring witnessing violence, violent victimization, aggression, drug use, and self-restraint. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and intraclass correlations. Figures, tables, notes, references