title: Factors affecting aggression in South Korean middle school students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was undertaken to assess levels of aggression, and to determine factors affecting aggression among South Korean middle school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study was conducted using self-report questionnaires. The participants were 340 girls and boys from two middle schools and 302 questionnaires were used for the final data analysis. Aggression, academic stress, depression, self esteem, decision-making competency, and happiness were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including t tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aggression had significant correlations with academic stress (r = .21, p < .001), depression (r = .43, p < .001), self esteem (r = -.25, p < .001), decision-making competency (r = -.25, p < .001), and happiness (r = -.21, p < .001). Mean score for aggression was 2.49 out of 5. Significant explanatory variables for aggression were grade (t = 4.39, p < .001), academic stress (t = 2.78, p = .006), and depression (t = 5.03, p < .001). The explanatory power of these factors was 26.9%, and this was statistically significant (F = 16.06, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that depression, academic stress, and grade (second grade) influence aggression. To decrease aggressive behavior, it is necessary to provide systematic and political programs in schools and local communities that can ameliorate negative emotional factors like depression and academic stress. Additionally, development of positive factors such as self esteem, decision-making skills, and happiness in middle school students is important to reduce aggression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Hoseo University, Asan, South Korea.
authors.forename: MiJeong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South Korea. Electronic address: jiheachoi@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jihea
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Hoseo University, Asan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: adolescent; aggression; decision making; depression; self esteem