1
|
Chen B, Zhang C, Feng F, Xian H, Zhao Y. The association between social class and aggression: A meta-analytic review. Soc Sci Med 2024; 340:116432. [PMID: 38039768 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Substantial evidence links social class with aggression. Despite lower social class being recognized as a risk factor for high levels of aggression, the findings of this association have been inconsistent. Some studies have indeed illustrated that a social class level is inversely associated with aggression, while other studies have demonstrated positive or null associations. OBJECTIVE To clarify previously inconsistent findings, this meta-analysis assesses the overall magnitude of this relationship and examines the potential moderators. METHODS A total of 268 studies met the inclusion criteria, and we used 546 effect sizes in 357 independent samples from these studies. A random-effects meta-analytic model was employed and several moderator analyses were conducted. RESULTS Overall, social class shared a small but significant negative relationship with aggression (r = -0.092). Moderator analyses suggested that study-level (e.g., type of study, and national differences), sample-level (e.g., age), class-level (e.g., type, assessment, and source of social class), and aggression-level (e.g., type of aggression) characteristics accounted for heterogeneity in the relationship. Additional analyses also revealed the robustness of these effects with little evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS Living in disadvantaged socioecological environments, lower-class individuals may exhibit more aggression to adapt to threats. Moreover, the relationship between social class and aggression is not fixed and can change with specific contexts, and aggression is not an essential feature of a particular social group. This research hopes to inspire future studies to explore the association between social class and aggression more thoroughly. Additionally, it provides insights into how to reduce aggression among lower-class individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bing Chen
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Faculty of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Chao Zhang
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Fan Feng
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Hua Xian
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Yufang Zhao
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Center for Studies of Education and Psychology of Minorities in Southwest China, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aroyewum BA, Adeyemo SO, Nnabuko DC. Aggressive behavior: examining the psychological and demographic factors among university students in Nigeria. COGENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2022.2154916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bushura Afolabi Aroyewum
- Department of Psychiatry, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Busheyin-Ishaka, Uganda
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Stevanovic D, Damjanovic R, Jovic V, Bador K, Nguyen HTM, Senhaji M, Kuch-Cecconi RH, Meszaros ZS, Kerekes N. Measurement properties of the life history of aggression in adolescents: Data from Morocco, Serbia, Sweden, Vietnam, and the USA. Psychiatry Res 2022; 311:114504. [PMID: 35287040 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Life History of Aggression (LHA) is a frequently used scale for assessing trait aggression, but its psychometric properties have not been evaluated among adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the LHA among high school students from Morocco, Serbia, Sweden, Vietnam, and the United States of America (USA). The total sample included 4867 adolescents, aged 15-19 years, from Morocco (n = 508), Serbia (n = 1067), Sweden (n = 1570), Vietnam (n = 1401), and the USA (n = 321). A two-factor, nine-item model containing an aggression factor (5 items) and a consequences/antisocial behavior factor (4 items) was created. The two-factor model had an acceptable-to-good model fit for the data for the total sample and all five countries, including gender. Cronbach's alpha (α) was satisfactory across countries. Still, the construct was noninvariant across countries and genders. The LHA with nine items in two subscales showed sound construct validity and internal consistency and can be used for group-level or within-group assessments of trait aggression in adolescents by either gender or country. However, it should not be used for cross-gender or cross-country comparisons due to a lack of measurement invariance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dejan Stevanovic
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinic for Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | - Rade Damjanovic
- Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Education in Sombor, University of Novi Sad, Sombor 25000, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Jovic
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinic for Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth, Belgrade 11000, Serbia
| | | | - Hang Thi Minh Nguyen
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Hanoi 100000, Viet Nam.
| | - Meftaha Senhaji
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Avenue de Sebta, Mhannech II, Tetouan 93002, Morocco.
| | - Rachael H Kuch-Cecconi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
| | | | - Nóra Kerekes
- Department of Health Sciences, University West, Trollhättan 46186, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Long H, Fan M, Li Q, Yang X, Huang Y, Xu X, Ma J, Xiao J, Jiang T. Structural and functional biomarkers of the insula subregions predict sex differences in aggression subscales. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 43:2923-2935. [PMID: 35289969 PMCID: PMC9120556 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggression is a common and complex social behavior that is associated with violence and mental diseases. Although sex differences were observed in aggression, the neural mechanism for the effect of sex on aggression behaviors remains unclear, especially in specific subscales of aggression. In this study, we investigated the effects of sex on aggression subscales, gray matter volume (GMV), and functional connectivity (FC) of each insula subregion as well as the correlation of aggression subscales with GMV and FC. This study found that sex significantly influenced (a) physical aggression, anger, and hostility; (b) the GMV of all insula subregions; and (c) the FC of the dorsal agranular insula (dIa), dorsal dysgranular insula (dId), and ventral dysgranular and granular insula (vId_vIg). Additionally, mediation analysis revealed that the GMV of bilateral dIa mediates the association between sex and physical aggression, and left dId–left medial orbital superior frontal gyrus FC mediates the relationship between sex and anger. These findings revealed the neural mechanism underlying the sex differences in aggression subscales and the important role of the insula in aggression differences between males and females. This finding could potentially explain sexual dimorphism in neuropsychiatric disorders and improve dysregulated aggressive behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Long
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ming Fan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiaojun Li
- School of Information Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuhua Yang
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yujiao Huang
- Zhijiang College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinli Xu
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ji Ma
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Xiao
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianzi Jiang
- Brainnetome Center and National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Artificial Intelligence, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,The Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
de Souza NL, Esopenko C, Conway FN, Todaro SM, Buckman JF. Patterns of health behaviors affecting mental health in collegiate athletes. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2021; 69:495-502. [PMID: 31702963 PMCID: PMC10521309 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2019.1682591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association of multiple health behaviors to mental health functioning in male and female collegiate athletes. Participants: Prospective National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes (n = 183) completed a health and wellness survey in the summer prior to joining the athletic program. Methods: Health behaviors (eating, sleeping, substance use, sexual, and aggressive behaviors) and mental health functioning (psychological distress and perceived stress) were assessed. Partial least squares (PLS) modeling was used as a multivariate approach to simultaneously examine the association of health behaviors to mental health functioning. Results: Aggressive behaviors, alcohol use, and fatigue were significantly associated with symptoms of psychological distress and stress in both males and females. Attention to nutrition, unhealthy dietary habits, and lower alcohol use was further related to psychological distress in female athletes only. Conclusions: Athletes' eating, sleeping, substance use, and aggressive behaviors may provide insight into their mental health functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola L. de Souza
- School of Graduate Studies, Health Science Campus-Newark, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Carrie Esopenko
- Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Fiona N. Conway
- Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway Township, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sabrina M. Todaro
- Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway Township, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jennifer F. Buckman
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Saleem M, Barlett CP, Anderson CA, Hawkins I. Helping and hurting others: Person and situation effects on aggressive and prosocial behavior as assessed by the Tangram task. Aggress Behav 2017; 43:133-146. [PMID: 27629104 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The Tangram Help/Hurt Task is a laboratory-based measure designed to simultaneously assess helpful and hurtful behavior. Across five studies we provide evidence that further establishes the convergent and discriminant validity of the Tangram Help/Hurt Task. Cross-sectional and meta-analytic evidence finds consistently significant associations between helpful and hurtful scores on the Tangram Task and prosocial and aggressive personality traits. Experimental evidence reveals that situational primes known to induce aggressive and prosocial behavior significantly influence helpful and hurtful scores on the Tangram Help/Hurt Task. Additionally, motivation items in all studies indicate that tangram choices are indeed associated with intent of helping and hurting. We discuss the advantages and limitations of the Tangram Help/Hurt Task relative to established measures of helpful and hurtful behavior. Aggr. Behav. 43:133-146, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muniba Saleem
- Department of Communication Studies & Research Center for Group Dynamics; Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan; Ann Arbor Michigan
| | | | - Craig A. Anderson
- Department of Psychology & Center for the Study of Violence; Iowa State University; Ames Iowa
| | - Ian Hawkins
- Department of Communication Studies; University of Michigan; Ann Arbor Michigan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Babore A, Carlucci L, Cataldi F, Phares V, Trumello C. Aggressive behaviour in adolescence: Links with self-esteem and parental emotional availability. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/sode.12236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
8
|
Saleem M, Anderson CA, Barlett CP. Assessing Helping and Hurting Behaviors Through the Tangram Help/Hurt Task. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2015. [PMID: 26199219 DOI: 10.1177/0146167215594348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Across six studies, we validated a new measure of helpful and hurtful behaviors, the Tangram Help/Hurt Task. Studies 1 to 3 provided cross-sectional correlational convergent and discriminant validity evidence for the Tangram Task using college-based and adult online samples. Study 4 revealed that previously validated empathy primes increase helpful behaviors on the Tangram Task. Studies 5 and 6 revealed that previously validated provocation manipulations increase hurtful behaviors on the Tangram Task. The effects of various experimental manipulations on the Tangram Task were similar to or larger than on other established indices of helpful and hurtful behaviors. In addition, motivation items in all studies indicate that tangram choices are indeed associated with the intent of helping and hurting. We discuss the advantages and limitations of the Tangram Help/Hurt Task relative to established measures of helpful and hurtful behaviors.
Collapse
|
9
|
Karlsgodt KH, Bato AA, Blair MA, DeRosse P, Szeszko PR, Malhotra AK. White matter microstructure in the executive network associated with aggression in healthy adolescents and young adults. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2015; 10:1251-6. [PMID: 25691778 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Predicting which individuals may engage in aggressive behavior is of interest in today's society; however, there is little data on the neural basis of aggression in healthy individuals. Here, we tested whether regional differences in white matter (WM) microstructure were associated with later reports of aggressive tendencies. We recontacted healthy young adults an average of 3 years after they underwent research MRI scans. Via electronic survey, we administered the Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire. We divided aggression into Aggressive Thoughts (Anger and Hostility subscales) and Aggressive Acts (Verbal and Physical subscales) and used Tract-Based Spatial Statistics to test the relationship of those measures to WM microstructure. In 45 individuals age 15-30 at baseline, we observed significant relationships between Aggressive Acts and fractional anisotropy (FA) in a parietal region consistent with the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). As the SLF has an established relationship to executive function, we performed an exploratory analysis in a subset of individuals with working memory data. Decreased FA in executive network regions, as well as working memory performance, were associated with later self-reported aggressive tendencies. This has implications for our healthy behavior understanding of as well as that of patient populations known to have executive dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine H Karlsgodt
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset NY, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks NY, and Hofstra NorthShore LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead NY, USA
| | - Angelica A Bato
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset NY, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks NY, and
| | - Melanie A Blair
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset NY, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks NY, and
| | - Pamela DeRosse
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset NY, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks NY, and
| | - Philip R Szeszko
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset NY, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks NY, and Hofstra NorthShore LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead NY, USA
| | - Anil K Malhotra
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset NY, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks NY, and Hofstra NorthShore LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|