Study On The Association Of Aggression, Self-Esteem And Cognition Among Children And Adolescents

ObjectiveTo explore the association among aggressive behavior, self-esteem and cognition ofchildren and adolescents, and to compare the differences of explicit and implicitcognition between aggressive and non-aggressive individuals, so to provide scientificbasis for aggression prevention and treatment.MethodsTwenty-three thousand and ninety-four students were selected from15cities in Anhui,Yunnan, Guangdong, Heilongjiang, Hubei provinces by using multi-stage stratifiedcluster sampling. Aggression and self-esteem were assessed by Buss and Warren’sAggression Questionnaire (BWAQ) and Self-esteem Scale (SES). According to thedistribution of BWAQ score, subjects whose score were at the top of95%wereselected as aggressive group, whose score were below the mean score were qualifiedas a control group, and Implicit Attitude Test (IAT) and Chinese Cognitive AbilityScale (CCAS) were conducted and the differences of explicit and implicit cognitivecharacteristics between two groups were analysed..Results 1、Among23904participants, the prevalence rate of aggression was5.20%, and therewere no significance differences on gender and grade (p>0.05).2、The characteristics of aggression of child and adolescent included:①on scores ofphysical, verbal, and hostility aggression and the total scores of aggression, boys weresignificantly higher than girls (P<0.05).②on scores of physical, verbal, anger andhostility aggression and the total scores of aggression, significant grade differenceswere found, and the scores increased by grade increased.③the influencing factorsof aggression included school and social environment, parents’ education attitudeconsistency, self satisfaction with appearance, parents’ education level, the number offriends, whether the only child or not etc.3、The characteristics of self-esteem among child and adolescent included:①theself-esteem scores of boys were significantly higher than that of girls (P<0.05);②the self-esteem scores of elementary school students were significant higher than thatof junior high school and high school students, however, no significance was foundbetween junior high school and high school students.③the influencing factors ofself-esteem included whether the only child or not, parents’ education level,relationship with teachers and peers, self satisfaction with appearance and otherdemographic characteristics (P<0.05).4、Negative correlation were found between self-esteem and physical, anger, hostilityaggression, and positive correlation was found between self-esteem and verbalaggression(P<0.01), however, no significant correlation was found betweenself-esteem and indirect aggression.5、Both in aggression and control group, incompatible coupling were larger thancompatible coupling in Implicit Attitude Test, and the difference was significant（P<0.05）.6、The differences on space/calculation were significant between aggression andcontrol group (P<0.05), however, no significant was found on other dimensions ofCCAS (P>0.05). 7、The aggressive scores were no significant relationship with IAT scores and CCASscores (P>0.05).Conclusion1、Gender and grade differences were found both in aggression and self-esteem amongchild and adolescent. Compare to girls, boys were more likely to conduct physical andverbal aggression. The total score of aggression increased by grade increased. Theself-esteem scores of boys were significant higher than that of girls, and theself-esteem scores were decreased by grade increased both in boys and girls.2、 Both of aggression and self-esteem among children and adolescents wereassociated with school and family environment, and peer relationship.3、 The explicit and implicit cognition of aggression were independence amongchildren and adolescents.