Cross-Sectional Study: Aggressive behavior in fifth year high school students of peripheral schools of Lima, Perú

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Aggression among schoolchildren is a growing problem, affecting their educational, social and cultural well-being. In this context, aggression has become an aim of study for Social Sciences, from various approaches. The intensity of this problem negatively impacts on children and adolescents lives. Numerous studies report that events of violence and/or aggression in schools can generate physical and emotional damage to schoolchildren, learning difficulties due to post-trau-matic stress disorder, demotivation, absenteeism and school dropout. The aim of this study was to establish the level of aggression in fifth-year high school students from high schools in Lima, Peru. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative exploratory study. The Buss and Perry, Aggres-sion Questionnaire was applied and adapted to the context. The content validity was obtained with Aiken’s V coefficient (0.80) for each item and dimension. The Kolmogorov- Smirnov normality test was used for data analysis. Data is presented in charts, with frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: The study was applied to a sample of 274 adolescents, aged 15 to 18 years. High levels of aggression were found in the students (54.8%; High aggression level: 38.6%, very high aggression level: 16.2%), with a predominance in the male group (43%), compared to 34% in women. Regarding the aggression dimensions, we found high levels, in verbal aggression (40%), followed by physical aggression and hostility (38%) and finally anger (37%). CONCLUSION: After data processing, high levels of aggression were found among fifth-year high schools students from peripheral areas of Lima. Regarding gender, a predominance of high-level aggression was found in males over females. About aggression dimensions, we found a high level of verbal aggression, followed by physical aggression and hostility, finally by anger. KEYWORDS: BEHAVIOR, AGGRESSION, TEENAGER, ANGER, HOSTILIT