The International Journal of Indian Psychology

ISSN 2348-5396 (e) | ISSN: 2349-3429 (p)

Volume 3, Issue 4, No. 57, DIP: 18.01.036/20160304
ISBN: 978-1-365-23993-9
http://www.ijip.in | July-September, 2016

Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression

Sandra Sunitha Lobo 1*, Dr. S.V. Surya Rekha 2

ABSTRACT
Adolescence as a transitional stage implies several changes and challenges demanding psycho-
social adjustment that could be beyond one’s coping for some adolescents who end up
developing dysfunctional adaptive behaviour such as aggression. The present study aimed at
investigating the risk factors of adolescent aggression. A total of 297 respondents constituted the
sample of the study. Among them, 63 (21.21%) adolescents were male and 234 (78.78%) were
female. A survey design was used. The descriptive statistics used for analysis of demographic
variables were frequency and percentage. Chi Square test and Fishers exact test were used to find
the risk factors of Aggression. The findings of the present study show a statistical significant
association between gender and socio-economic status on adolescent aggression.

Keywords: Adolescent Aggression, Socio-Economic Status, Gender.

There are major developmental changes and challenges associated with the period of
adolescence, as youth acquire and consolidate the competencies, attitudes and values necessary
to make a successful transition into adulthood. Late adolescence and the period following it,
often referred to as emerging adulthood, have been noted as particularly important for setting the
stage for continued development through the life span as individuals begin to make choices and
engage in a variety of activities that influence rest of their lives.

Bronfenbrenner (2001) in his ecological theory of developmental processes provides a valuable

lens for examining developmental changes in adolescent aggression. The family and school
environments have regularly been linked to psycho - social and behavioural adjustment problems
in the adolescent period. The quality of adolescent - parent, adolescent - peer and adolescent -
teacher interactions influence and may determine the way adolescents perceive themselves in
relation to others, their attitudes and their behaviours. In addition to the family processes, peer
contexts in adolescence have implications for adolescent aggression.

1
Research Scholar, Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
2
Professor, Montfort College, Bangalore, India
*Responding Author
© 2016 I S Lobo, S Rekha; licensee IJIP. This is an Open Access Research distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any Medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression

Gender is a factor that plays a role in human aggression. Men are historically believed to be
generally more physically aggressive than women (Coie & Dodge 1997, Maccoby & Jacklin
1974). This is one of the most robust and reliable behavioural sex differences and has been found
across many different age groups and cultures. Rahman and Huq (2005) studied to explore
aggression in adolescent boys and girls as related to socio-economic status (SES) and residential
background in Bangladesh. They investigated 240 respondents and found that respondents with
high SES expressed more aggression than those with middle and low SES. Respondents with
middle SES expressed more aggression than the low SES and girls expressed more aggression
than boys.

Family is the most important part of a child's environment (Adams, 1966). An individual’s
experiences in early life at home with his/her family in general and parents in particular are
major determinants of a person’s adjustment process during adolescence and in later life
(Jayanagaraja, 1985). Children of physically punitive parents tend to use similar aggression when
relating to others. Their parents often disciplined them by screaming, slapping, and beating - thus
modeling aggression as a method of dealing with problems (Patterson, Chamberlain & Reid,
1982). There exists a relationship between intra familial communication and aggressive
behaviours. Van Londen et al (2013), through a cross- sectional study, examined a model in
which parenting, child social information processing and self-perception were simultaneously
tested as risk factors associated with aggression. Most studies assessing the link between parental
discipline and child aggression have focused primarily on discipline as a cause and aggression as
an outcome.

Only a paucity of research has examined risk factors for community violence exposure across
domains relevant to adolescents. Sharma, Grover and Chaturvedi (2008) conducted a Cross-
sectional study in South Delhi, India, to assess risk behaviour related to interpersonal violence
and its epidemiological correlates among 550 adolescents of various schools and colleges aged
14–19 years. The study identified a significant relationship with age p = .007) and gender (p ≤
.001) of the adolescents. The logistic regression analysis of the study showed significant
correlation of interpersonal violence with male gender, lower age, and number of close friends,
having seen role models who smoke/drink, and reside in resettlement colonies, slums or villages.

Using data from 184 adolescents and their homeroom teacher, analyses with structural equation
modelling, Bradshaw, Goldweber, Garbarino and James (2013) revealed a significant relation
between relatively mild levels of social - environmental risk and aggression. This association
was partially mediated by negatively biased social - cognitive factors (i.e., general knowledge
structures and social information processing). Findings suggest that even relatively low levels of
social rejection and community violence exposure characterizing suburban youth put them at an
increased risk of problems with aggression.

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 Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression

Several longitudinal studies and meta-analytic reviews have demonstrated that exposure to
violent media is linked to aggression over time. Coyne and Archer (2004) studied 347 British
adolescents and revealed that indirectly aggressive girls viewed more indirect aggression on
television than non-aggressive girls did. It could be that after viewing rewarded gossiping,
backbiting and rumour spreading, these girls are particularly likely to use this form of aggression
in their own lives.

Thus, the genetic disposition of the individual, the disciplinary styles adopted by the parents, the
school set-up and the environment in which the learners are situated could enhance their
aggression. Through observational experiences an adolescent can develop into an aggressor via
media influences.

Objectives
1. Prevalence of aggression among the respondents.
2. Risk factors of aggression.

Hypothesis
o Males are more aggressive than females.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The purpose of this study is to determine the risk factors related to aggressive behaviour among
late adolescents. To this end, a quantitative approach has been used. The selected design is a
survey design. The Universe of the study comprises the Autonomous colleges offering
undergraduate degree course in Mangaluru city. Purposive sampling technique is used to select
the respondents possessing high aggression. All the first year degree students, both male and
female adolescents aged between 17 and 19 years who volunteered for the study from the three
Colleges, scoring high on the Aggression Scale (score 205 and above) have been included in the
study. The required data has been elicited by administering the Aggression Scale developed by
Mathur and Bhatnagar (2004).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 Prevalence of aggression among the respondents
High Low to Average Total
Aggression Aggression Chi square Test
Males 41 (65.1%) 22 (34.9%) 63 X2= 24.094
Females 73 (31.19%) 161 (68.8%) 234 p value
0.000
114 (38.38%) 183 (61.61%) 297 <0.00 HS
High aggression is seen among 65.1% of males and 31.3% of females. The results show a
statistical significant association between gender and aggression with X2= 24.094. Thus, there is

© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 152
 Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression

a highly significant relation between the two groups. The hypothesis is proved. Males are found
to be more aggressive than females as per the findings of Ghosh (2013) and Biswas (1989).

Table 2 Comparison between aggression and other variables

Fishers
Chi square Test Exact Test
p p
X2 df value value
Sex and Aggression 24.094 1 .000 HS . .
Religion and Aggression 2.068 2 .356 NS
Living Condition and Aggression 0.436 1 .509 NS
Socio-Economic Status and Aggression . .004 HS
Presence of Parental Figures and Aggression 0.195 2 .907 NS
Discipline and Aggression . .659 NS
Family Environment and Aggression 2.048 2 .359 NS
Peers and Aggression . .718 NS
Peers Fights and Aggression . .595 NS
Teachers and Aggression . .892 NS
Community and Aggression . .238 NS
Engage in aggressive TV programmes and
0.721 2 .697 NS
Aggression
Engage in bullying classmates and
neighbours and Aggression 2.291 2 .318 NS

The results in Table 2 clearly show that there is a statistical significant association between sex
and aggression (X2=24.094). According to the theories of aggression by Parke and Slaby (1983),
gender role and learning play a key role for anger and aggressive behaviour among males. Males
are exposed to parenting practices that promote rough-and-tumble, anger and aggressive
behaviours whereas females are exposed to parenting practices that promote caring and close
interpersonal relationships. These differential socialization practices appear to foster adolescents’
anger to a greater extent in males than in females. Also, there is a high significance between the
socio - economic status of the respondents and aggression. One probable explanation of this
finding might be related to the domain-specific theory of self-esteem (Baumeister, 1998;
Kirkpatrick, Waugh, Valencia & Webster, 2002) which states that functionally distinct domains
of self-esteem would predict aggression differentially.

Adolescents with high socio - economic status perceive superiority. Individuals with low socio -
economic status, however, perceive social exclusion. Thus, social superiority and social
exclusion emerge as reliable and positive predictors of aggression (Bushman & Baumeister,
1998). The findings of the present study may be approached from the view-point of these

© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 153
 Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression

theoretical perspectives. However, there is no significance between aggression and the other
demographic variables.

Table 3 Demographic details of the respondents

Aggression
High Total
Aggression Average/Low
Freq % Freq % Freq %
Sex Male 41 65 22 34 63 100
Female 73 31 161 68 234 100
Total 114 183 297
Religion Hindus 36 35.0 67 65.0 103 100
Muslims 31 45.6 37 54.4 68 100
Christians 47 37.3 79 62.7 126 100
Total 114 183 297
Living Conditions At Home 66 36.9 113 63.1 179 100
In The Hostel/PG 48 40.7 70 59.3 118 100
Total 114 183 297
Socio - Economic Upper Middle
36 54.5 30 45.5 66 100
Conditions Class
Middle Class 77 34.4 147 65.6 224 100
Lower Middle
1 14.3 6 85.7 7 100
Class
Total 114 183 297
At Home Both Parents
81 37.7 134 62.3 215 100
Living Together
Single Parent 23 39.7 35 60.3 58 100
With Relatives and
10 41.7 14 58.3 24 100
Grandparents
TOTAL
114 183
297
Majority of the adolescents (179) are day scholars pursuing their collegiate education. As
reported by them, 224 adolescents report belonging to the middle socio - economic strata of
society. A majority of 215 adolescents hail from families where both the parents live together.

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 Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression

Table 4 Risk factors of aggression

Aggression
High TOTAL
Aggression Average/Low
Freq % Freq % Freq %
Discipline Unreasonably strict 7 43.8 9 56.3 16 100
Strict but
103 37.7 170 62.3 273 100
reasonable
Uninvolved 4 50.0 4 50.0 8 100
TOTAL 114 183 297
Family Environment Excellent 32 35.6 58 64.4 90 100
Good 71 38.2 115 61.8 186 100
Average 11 52.4 10 47.6 21 100
TOTAL 114 183 297
Peers Loving/Caring 77 37.4 129 62.6 206 100
Aggressive/Violent 4 50.0 4 50.0 8 100
Ordinary/Neutral 33 39.8 50 60.2 83 100
TOTAL 114 183 297
Peers Fights Always 2 66.7 1 33.3 3 100
Sometimes 39 36.1 69 63.9 108 100
Never 73 39.2 113 60.8 186 100
TOTAL 114 183 297
Teachers Loving 79 40.1 118 59.9 197 100
Unreasonably Strict 3 33.3 6 66.7 9 100
Reasonable Strict 31 35.2 57 64.8 88 100
Aggressive/Violent 1 33.3 2 66.7 3 100
TOTAL 114 183 297
Community Loving/Caring 62 34.6 117 65.4 179 100
Aggressive/Violent 3 42.9 4 57.1 7 100
Ordinary/Neutral 49 44.1 62 55.9 111 100
TOTAL 114 183 297
Engage In Always
Aggressive T.V 11 45.8 13 54.2 24 100
Programmes
Sometimes 77 38.3 124 61.7 201 100
Never 26 36.1 46 63.9 72 100
TOTAL 114 183 297
Engage in Bullying Always
Classmates and 2 22.2 7 77.8 9 100
Neighbours
Sometimes 54 42.5 73 57.5 127 100
Never 58 36.0 103 64.0 161 100
TOTAL 114 183 297

© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 155
 Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression

Table 4 shows 43.8% of highly aggressive adolescents and 56.3% of average/low aggressive
adolescents report unreasonably strict parental discipline. 64.4% of average/low aggressive
adolescents consider their family environment to be excellent whereas only 35.6% of highly
aggressive adolescents feel the same about their families. A large majority of the (52.4%) highly
aggressive adolescents consider their family environment to be average compared to the
average/low aggressive adolescents (47.6%). 62.6% of the average/low aggressive adolescents
consider their peers to be loving and caring whereas only 37.4% of the highly aggressive
adolescents feel the same about their peers. 66.7% of the highly aggressive adolescents
expressed that their peers always fought with them and only 33.3% of the average/low
aggressive adolescents expressed so. A larger majority of the average/low aggressive adolescents
(59.9% ) considered their teachers to be loving compared to the highly aggressive adolescents
(40.1%). Compared to their counterparts, 66.7%, 64.8% and 66.7% of the average/low
aggressive adolescents considered their teachers to be more unreasonably strict, more reasonably
strict and more aggressive, respectively. 57.1% of the average/low aggressive adolescents
considered their community to be more aggressive and violent compared to the highly aggressive
adolescents (42.9%). A higher majority of the average/low aggressive adolescents (54.2%)
always engaged in aggressive TV programmes than the highly aggressive adolescents (45.8%).
Surprisingly, the average/low aggressive adolescents always engaged in bullying behaviour more
(77.8%) than the highly aggressive adolescents (22.2%).

IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study on the risk factors of adolescent aggression revealed the presence of differences in
gender and socio - economic status among aggressive late adolescents. As reported by them,
many adolescents belong to the middle socio-economic strata of the society. During the period of
adolescence, there are experiences of peer rejection, academic failure and lowered self-esteem.
One continues to be persistently aggressive in interactions with both peers and adults and is at
risk of social rejection. Arguments with parents and siblings may increase and the adolescent
may develop other significant behaviour problems. To be healthy and safe, adolescents need to
be equipped with skills that allow them to cope with anger in a productive manner. The nature of
changes and challenges that occur simultaneously during adolescence require the development of
effective coping strategies for adaptive functioning.

CONCLUSIONS
In today’s society, adolescents face daily situations that contribute to their anger. A major
contribution of the current study is the exploration of the association of adolescent’s anger with
sex and SES of a few adolescents of Mangaluru city. But the sample size was relatively small
and the study was administered in Autonomous colleges only. Future research can be carried out
on a large-scale sample covering different other colleges like government, private aided and
private colleges. Further studies are needed to measure and investigate the components
(instrumental anger, reactive anger and anger control) of anger. However, identifying and

© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 156
 Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression

understanding protective factors are equally important as researching risk factors. Future studies
may also wish to explore aspects of anger coping and its relationship with SES, gender and other
demographic factors. It would be imperative to study and analyse the hidden causal factors of
aggression, impulsivity, problems faced personally, at home or in academics as these problems
would precipitate and prevent the experience of psychological well- being. Thus identification of
causal factors would facilitate developing early preventive/curative interventions by mental
health professionals which would ensure better mental health among the adolescent population.

Acknowledgments
The author appreciates all those who participated in the study and helped to facilitate the
research process.

Conflict of Interests
The author declared no conflict of interests.

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How to cite this article: S Lobo, S Rekha (2016), Risk Factors of Adolescent Aggression,
International Journal of Indian Psychology, Volume 3, Issue 4, No. 57, ISSN 2348-5396 (e),
ISSN: 2349-3429 (p), DIP: 18.01.036/20160304, ISBN: 978-1-365-23993-9

© The International Journal of Indian Psychology, ISSN 2348-5396 (e)| ISSN: 2349-3429 (p) | 158