ASSOCIATION OF AGGRESSION WITH SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG RURAL ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a period of immense physical, mental and social changes. Aggression is very common feature in this period in the present day world. But very limited studies have been conducted regarding aggression among adolescents in rural India. The present study was conducted to find out different socio-demographic characteristics associated with aggression among adolescents.

Materials and methods: The community based cross sectional study was conducted in Ramnagar, Jalapara and Rasulpur villages of Singur block of Hooghly district of West Bengal in Eastern India. The study included adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years of age. To assess aggression, Direct and Indirect Aggression Scale (DIAS) was used. Collected data was compiled, tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0.

Results: A high proportion of adolescents scored very high in DIAS scale. Total aggression score was significantly higher among older adolescents (18-19 years of age), among males, among adolescents belonging to lower income groups and whose mothers were working. Physical aggression score was significantly higher in younger adolescents, but other types of aggression were found to be significantly higher among older group.