The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Reactive Aggression in Childhood: A Structural Equation Model with Multiple Mediators

Abstract

Abstract: The present study explored the relationship between negative life events and reactive aggression among 977 students with ages between 9 to 14-year-old. Reactive and Proactive Aggressive Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (children’s version) - emotional stability dimension were employed in the study. A structural equation model was established to describe the relation between negative life events and reactive aggression, which was mediated by self-esteem and emotional stability. The results showed that negative life events directly affected the formation of reactive aggression, and indirectly affected reactive aggression by changing the emotional status. That is, when negative life events occurred, the emotional status tended to be unstable, which led to a higher level of reactive aggression. Besides, negative life events also resulted in the instability of emotional status by reducing the level of self-esteem, which gave rise to a stronger level of reactive aggression as well.

Key words: child, reactive aggression, negative life event, emotional stability, self-esteem

摘要： 以977名9～14岁学生为对象，探索负性生活事件与儿童反应性攻击性之间的关系。研究使用了反应性与主动性攻击性问卷、Rosenberg自尊量表、青少年生活事件量表、艾森克人格问卷（儿童版）-情绪稳定性维度问卷，建立了以自尊和情绪稳定性作为中介变量，描述负性生活事件与反应性攻击性之间关系的结构方程模型。结果发现，负性生活事件可直接影响儿童反应性攻击性的形成，同时还可以通过改变情绪稳定性来影响反应性攻击性，即当负性生活事件发生时，情绪状态会倾向于不稳定，进而提高反应性攻击性的水平。此外，负性生活事件也会通过降低自尊水平来提高情绪状态的不稳定性，从而提高反应性攻击性的水平。

关键词: 儿童, 反应性攻击性, 负性生活事件, 情绪稳定性, 自尊

CLC Number:

B844

LIU Xin, LIU Xiaowen. The Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Reactive Aggression in Childhood: A Structural Equation Model with Multiple Mediators[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(1): 82-88.

刘昕, 刘晓雯. 负性生活事件与儿童反应性攻击性之间的关系：一个有多重中介变量的结构方程模型[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2021, 19(1): 82-88.

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