Bidirectional Relationships between Adolescent Aggression and Mental Health Conditions: Longitudinal Evidence from Secondary School Students in China

• DOI: 10.1007/s10964-025-02167-y
• Publication Date: 2025-03-23T09:48:50Z
• Authors: Xiang Li; Xinxin Zhu; Rebecca P. Ang; Xintong Zhang; Yunpeng Bai; Daiyi Chen
• Keywords: Longitudinal Study; Health psychology; Depression

Abstract A rising global concern, adolescent aggression has been linked to adolescents’ mental health conditions, and vice versa. Although longitudinal relationships between the two have studied, within-person associations these variables, which are important for informing interventions, not adequately examined. To bridge that research gap, this study examined (i.e., reactive, proactive, cyber aggression) problems depressive anxious symptoms), as informed by frustration-aggression theory failure model. Three-wave data were collected from a sample of Chinese adolescents ( N = 1422; 50.9% girls; mean age 13.56 years) at three time points, each separated one-year intervals. The analyzed using random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM), revealing several relationships. presence symptoms depression anxiety T2 predicted increased T3, also an increase in reactive T3 p < 0.1). In addition, proactive 0.1), T1 reduction T2. All aggression- health-related variables significantly correlated between-person level. Moreover, results multiple-group RI-CLPMs showed gender influenced anxiety. study’s lend partial support notion bidirectional aggressive behaviors well Insights into interactions can inform prevention intervention strategies.