Abstract
Children tend to develop forms of anxiety that can be associated with school violence. However, the previous scientific literature on anxiety and aggression is scarce. In addition, it has only focused on examining differential relationships between both variables. This study aimed to analyze the relationships between three forms of anxiety (anticipatory anxiety, school-based performance anxiety, and generalized anxiety) and the components of aggression (physical and verbal aggression, anger, and hostility) by adopting a person-centered approach. The sample consisted of 1161 Spanish students from 8 to 11 years old (M = 9.72, SD = 1.14); 46.2% were boys. Informed written consent from the parents or legal guardians was obtained. The Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety—Revised and the Aggression Questionnaire were used. The latent profile analysis technique identified three profiles of anxious children: Low Anxiety, High School-based Performance Anxiety, and High Anxiety. The High Anxiety group scored significantly higher than the Low Anxiety group in all components of aggression, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (d = 0.59 to 0.99). The High Anxiety profile showed significantly higher scores than the high school-based performance anxiety profile only in anger (d = 0.56) and hostility (d = 0.44). The results have relevant implications for practice, since there is evidence that different intervention strategies should be applied according to the risk profile.
Highlights
Child anxiety is an emotional problem, characterized by excessive fear responses to perceived threats [1]
This study aimed to analyze the relationship between three forms of anxiety (AA, school-based performance anxiety (SA), and generalized anxiety (GA)) and the components of aggressive behavior in the Spanish children population
The results revealed three profiles of anxious children: a specific profile called High School-based Performance Anxiety (i.e., SA) and the remaining two profiles named High Anxiety and Low Anxiety (i.e., anticipatory anxiety (AA), SA, and GA)
Summary
Child anxiety is an emotional problem, characterized by excessive fear responses to perceived threats [1]. Aggression can be defined considering multiple forms and components In this sense, the study of this behavior has provided conceptualizations that consider aggression as a construct involving physical, verbal, and psychological forms, being the model of Buss and Perry [9] “an influential framework that emphasized the importance of individual differences and psychological functioning” [10] The study of this behavior has provided conceptualizations that consider aggression as a construct involving physical, verbal, and psychological forms, being the model of Buss and Perry [9] “an influential framework that emphasized the importance of individual differences and psychological functioning” [10] This model determined that aggressive behavior is made up of a motor component, which includes physical and verbal aggression, and an emotional component (anger) and a cognitive component (hostility). Hostility is a cognitive state that involves negative evaluations towards others (e.g., distrust) [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
