Developmental Course and Risk Factors of Physical Aggression in Late Adolescence

Marit Henriksen,Denis G Sukhodolsky,Wan-Ling Tseng,Stian Lydersen,Marit Skrove,Erik R Sund,Gry Børmark Hoftun

doi:10.1007/s10578-020-01049-7

Abstract

This study examined risk factors of physical aggression during transition from early to late adolescence using a two-wave longitudinal study. Specifically, we examined if risk factors in early adolescence predict physically aggressive behavior starting in late adolescence and why some adolescents desist physical aggressive behavior while others do not. The study sample consisted of 2289 Norwegian adolescents (1235 girls) who participated in the Young-HUNT1 study (mean age 14.5) and the follow-up study 4 years later, Young-HUNT2 study (mean age 18.4). One in six young adolescents reported engaging in physical fights. Moreover, physical aggression in early adolescence was significantly associated with male gender, attention problems, academic problems, being bullied, drinking alcohol, and smoking. Male gender and heavy drinking during early adolescence increased the risk for newly emerging aggressive behavior in late adolescence, whereas heavy drinking during early adolescence was a predictor for persistent versus desisting aggressive behavior in late adolescence.

Highlights

Physical aggression in childhood and adolescence represents a major clinical and public health concern
When adjusting for age and sex (Model 1), the results showed that male gender, attention problems, alcohol use, and smoking in early adolescence were statistical significant risk factors for onset of physical fighting in late adolescence
Our results indicate that attention problems are of some relevance, but they are not an important predictor in distinguishing between nonaggressive behavior and physical aggression starting in late adolescence

Summary

Introduction

Physical aggression in childhood and adolescence represents a major clinical and public health concern. Physical aggression and delinquency can have long lasting negative consequences for the perpetrators and the victims. Perpetrators of physical aggression are shown to have an increased risk for later physical violence and crimes [3, 4], school drop-out [4, 5], substance abuse [5], future mental, and physical health problems and economic difficulties [6]. In addition to the physical injuries, have an increased risk of mental health problems, educational and economic difficulties, involvement in crimes [7], and externalizing problems [8]

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion