Aggression in late childhood and in early adolescence in Slovenia: two-wave cohort study

• Main Author: Ana Kozina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2017-02-01
• Series: Current Issues in Personality Psychology
• Subjects: children; aggression; cohort study; early adolescents
• Online Access: https://www.termedia.pl/Aggression-in-late-childhood-and-in-early-adolescence-in-Slovenia-two-wave-cohort-study,75,29465,1,1.html

Background The present study investigated age differences in trait aggression in the period of late childhood and early adolescence that are important for assessment of the aggression levels that are not in line with expected developmental trends and are in need of intervention. Additionally the authors present the time trends from measurement of aggression and its subtypes at two time points. Participants and procedure The authors focus on specific subtypes of aggression relevant for the Slovenian context and for the development period. We used the LA aggression scale (general trait aggression and four factors: physical aggression, verbal aggression, internal aggression and aggression towards authority) as a measure of aggression in two age groups, 10-year-olds (n = 4,351) and 14-year-olds (n = 4,043), at two time points (in 2007 and in 2011). Results The results show significant cross-sectional differences in the level of aggression. Older participants exhibit higher levels of general aggression as well as all four aggression types (also in a cohort design). The findings are aligned with contemporary research on personality development stressing greater stability after the period of adolescence. The time-related trends show a significant decrease in physical aggression and an increase in internal aggression from 2007 to 2011 in both observed age groups. Conclusions The implications of the findings are discussed, and in line with the results early intervention is supported.