Gender and Age Differences in Self-Reported Aggression of High School Students

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to (a) investigate gender and age differences in physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility, and (b) examine the discriminatory power of the Greek version of the Aggression Questionnaire (GAQ) with high school students. The sample of the study consisted of 658 high school students (321 boys and 337 girls), with an age range from 13 to 17 years (M = 15.3, SD = 1.5). The students completed the Aggression Questionnaire adapted to Greek. Regarding gender, the overall correct identification rate in the discriminant analysis showed that 73.3% of the cases were correctly classified. In addition, the results indicated that physical aggression declined with age and that, compared to boys, girls of higher grades apply more indirect forms of aggression, such as anger and hostility. The findings of the study provide important information regarding the expression of aggressive behavior during adolescence.

Prevalence of Aggressive Behavior in Greek Elementary School Settings from Teachers’ Perspectives

“…According to the results of this study, aggressive behavior in elementary school is not associated with the aggressor's age, nationality or family status, which is in accordance with the results of other studies [23,24,54]. The current research also shows that boys are more likely to be physically aggressive than girls, a result that is also confirmed also by a number of previous studies [2,13,16,[19][20][21]. Moreover, according to prior findings [55], bullies tend to have low academic performance, a result that is confirmed by the current study, as well.…”

“…Furthermore, Ostrov and Keating [19] observed preschoolers' aggressive behavior and found that boys displayed more physical and verbal aggression during free play than girls. Similar findings are also reported in other studies concerning preschoolers [20] and Greek adolescents [21]. As far as cyberbullying is concerned, both girls and boys are involved to the same extent according to a study that was conducted in primary schools [22].…”

Prevalence of Aggressive Behavior in Greek Elementary School Settings from Teachers’ Perspectives

“…According to the results of this study, aggressive behavior in elementary school is not associated with the aggressor's age, nationality or family status, which is in accordance with the results of other studies [23,24,54]. The current research also shows that boys are more likely to be physically aggressive than girls, a result that is also confirmed also by a number of previous studies [2,13,16,[19][20][21]. Moreover, according to prior findings [55], bullies tend to have low academic performance, a result that is confirmed by the current study, as well.…”

“…Furthermore, Ostrov and Keating [19] observed preschoolers' aggressive behavior and found that boys displayed more physical and verbal aggression during free play than girls. Similar findings are also reported in other studies concerning preschoolers [20] and Greek adolescents [21]. As far as cyberbullying is concerned, both girls and boys are involved to the same extent according to a study that was conducted in primary schools [22].…”

Cumulative contextual risk, mothers' and fathers' parenting, and adolescents' psychosocial problems in Ghana

“…This suggests that depression incidence may rise during late adolescence. However, increased age was linked to lower overt aggression, suggesting greater regulation of dysfunctional negative impulses with age, and consistent with other existing literature among adolescents in other contexts such as Greece (Tsorbatzoudis et al., 2013). At the bivariate level, several correlations were observed between adolescent age, parental warmth and behavioral control, and cumulative risk exposure.…”

Appetitive aggression in offending youths: Contributions of callous unemotional traits and violent cognitive patterns

“…Another potentially important observation in our findings is the negative relationship between age and appetitive aggression. Consistent with extant aggression literature (Tsorbatzoudis, Travlos, & Rodafinos, 2013), our study found an inverse relationship between age and appetitive aggression: being younger was associated with higher appetitive aggression among offenders. This suggests that appetitive aggression decreased as individuals got older.…”

Prevalence of Aggressive Behavior in Greek Elementary School Settings from Teachers’ Perspectives

“…According to the results of this study, aggressive behavior in elementary school is not associated with the aggressor's age, nationality or family status, which is in accordance with the results of other studies [23,24,54]. The current research also shows that boys are more likely to be physically aggressive than girls, a result that is also confirmed also by a number of previous studies [2,13,16,[19][20][21]. Moreover, according to prior findings [55], bullies tend to have low academic performance, a result that is confirmed by the current study, as well.…”

“…Furthermore, Ostrov and Keating [19] observed preschoolers' aggressive behavior and found that boys displayed more physical and verbal aggression during free play than girls. Similar findings are also reported in other studies concerning preschoolers [20] and Greek adolescents [21]. As far as cyberbullying is concerned, both girls and boys are involved to the same extent according to a study that was conducted in primary schools [22].…”

Cumulative contextual risk, mothers' and fathers' parenting, and adolescents' psychosocial problems in Ghana

“…This suggests that depression incidence may rise during late adolescence. However, increased age was linked to lower overt aggression, suggesting greater regulation of dysfunctional negative impulses with age, and consistent with other existing literature among adolescents in other contexts such as Greece (Tsorbatzoudis et al., 2013). At the bivariate level, several correlations were observed between adolescent age, parental warmth and behavioral control, and cumulative risk exposure.…”

Appetitive aggression in offending youths: Contributions of callous unemotional traits and violent cognitive patterns

“…Another potentially important observation in our findings is the negative relationship between age and appetitive aggression. Consistent with extant aggression literature (Tsorbatzoudis, Travlos, & Rodafinos, 2013), our study found an inverse relationship between age and appetitive aggression: being younger was associated with higher appetitive aggression among offenders. This suggests that appetitive aggression decreased as individuals got older.…”

Prevalence of Aggressive Behavior in Greek Elementary School Settings from Teachers’ Perspectives

“…According to the results of this study, aggressive behavior in elementary school is not associated with the aggressor's age, nationality or family status, which is in accordance with the results of other studies [23,24,54]. The current research also shows that boys are more likely to be physically aggressive than girls, a result that is also confirmed also by a number of previous studies [2,13,16,[19][20][21]. Moreover, according to prior findings [55], bullies tend to have low academic performance, a result that is confirmed by the current study, as well.…”

“…Furthermore, Ostrov and Keating [19] observed preschoolers' aggressive behavior and found that boys displayed more physical and verbal aggression during free play than girls. Similar findings are also reported in other studies concerning preschoolers [20] and Greek adolescents [21]. As far as cyberbullying is concerned, both girls and boys are involved to the same extent according to a study that was conducted in primary schools [22].…”

Cumulative contextual risk, mothers' and fathers' parenting, and adolescents' psychosocial problems in Ghana

“…This suggests that depression incidence may rise during late adolescence. However, increased age was linked to lower overt aggression, suggesting greater regulation of dysfunctional negative impulses with age, and consistent with other existing literature among adolescents in other contexts such as Greece (Tsorbatzoudis et al., 2013). At the bivariate level, several correlations were observed between adolescent age, parental warmth and behavioral control, and cumulative risk exposure.…”

Appetitive aggression in offending youths: Contributions of callous unemotional traits and violent cognitive patterns

“…Another potentially important observation in our findings is the negative relationship between age and appetitive aggression. Consistent with extant aggression literature (Tsorbatzoudis, Travlos, & Rodafinos, 2013), our study found an inverse relationship between age and appetitive aggression: being younger was associated with higher appetitive aggression among offenders. This suggests that appetitive aggression decreased as individuals got older.…”