BMC Public Health. 2025 Nov 14;25(1):3942. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-25250-2.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent reports have brought to our attention a growing number of incidents involving aggression among individuals. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need to investigate and address the factors contributing to aggression. Previous research has predominantly focused on specific groups, such as children, adolescents, or college students, limiting understanding of the primary factors within each age group. The primary objective of this study is to bridge this gap by gaining a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing aggression across various adult age groups, ranging from young adults to older individuals in physical, psychological, and social domains.
METHODS: This study comprehensively investigated demographic, physical, psychological, and social factors associated with perpetration of aggression in the general South Korean population. A national cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2021 to January 2022, and representative participants aged 18-85 years from all 17 South Korean provinces were recruited. Higher aggression was defined as the highest 10 percentiles of the aggression score measured using the Aggression Questionnaire. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) depression, anxiety, physical function, and pain interference subscales assessed psychological and physical traits of the participants. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between higher aggression levels and various demographic, physical, and psychological factors. All models were adjusted for age, sex, marital status, physical function, pain interference, comorbidities, physical disability, anxiety, depression, and psychiatric medication use.
RESULTS: In total, 2,699 participants completed the survey, with a mean aggression score of 52.20. Demographically, younger age (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 12.61; 95% CI 1.18-4.02) was associated with increased aggression. Severe limitations in physical function (aPR 2.06; 95% CI 1.35-2.78), pain interference (aPR 2.24; 95% CI 1.60-2.88), and a higher level of anxiety (aPR 2.24; 95% CI 1.57-2.89) were also significant factors. Especially when compared to those with the lowest levels of depression, participants with moderate and severe depression had a higher risk of aggression (aPR 2.01; 95% CI 1.38-2.63).
CONCLUSION: Young age, impaired physical function, pain interference, depression, and anxiety were identified as risk factors for aggression.
PMID:41239265 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-25250-2
