Stability in aggression and aggression control in a sample of primary school children in China.

Abstract

The aim was to study the stability of aggression and aggression control in Chinese children. Olweus' Aggression Inventory was retested after 18 months in a sample of Chinese primary school children in Beijing (average age 12 years; 267 children; 139 boys and 128 girls; 92% of the initial study sample). Compared with relevant studies in Scandinavian countries, this study shows that a degree of stability in aggression behaviour is also found in Chinese primary school children despite strong societal pressures against aggressive behaviour and towards aggression control. The result supports the earlier evidence that aggression was a somewhat more global or less differentiated phenomenon for Chinese children. Nevertheless, the average aggression response level for the Chinese children is clearly low and quite high for aggression control. Positive self-report, which reflects good adjustment and psychological health, was still clearly related to aggression control, but slightly less for the boys. The average difference between boys and girls in general aggression and aggression control was stable over time. Girls showed a lower level of general aggression and a higher level of aggression control compared with boys.