Psychology Research and Behavior Management (May 2023)

Personality Traits and Aggressive Behavior in Vietnamese Adolescents

  • Le DT,
  • Huynh SV,
  • Vu TV,
  • Dang-Thi NT,
  • Nguyen-Duong BT,
  • Duong KA,
  • Mai TN,
  • Huynh TN,
  • Mai PT,
  • Tran-Chi VL

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 1987 – 2003

Abstract

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Duc Tin Le,1 Son Van Huynh,1 Truong Vuong Vu,2 Nhu-Thuyen Dang-Thi,1 Bao-Tran Nguyen-Duong,1 Kiet Anh Duong,1 Tan Ngan Mai,1 Thanh Nhon Huynh,1 Phuc Tan Mai,1 Vinh-Long Tran-Chi1,3 1Faculty of Psychology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 2Faculty of Education, Ha Long University, Ha Long City, Vietnam; 3Scientific Management Department, Dong A University, Da Nang City, VietnamCorrespondence: Truong Vuong Vu, Faculty of Education, Ha Long University, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, 200000, Vietnam, Tel +84 203 385 2174, Fax +84 203 362 3775, Email [email protected]: This study aims to reveal the relationship between personality characteristics and verbal or physical aggression in Vietnamese adolescents.Patients and Methods: We recruited 3003 participants [1498 boys (49.9%) and 1505 girls (50.1%); mean age ± SD = 13.50 ± 0.936] who we tested with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Brief version (EPQ-BV), and Vietnamese Aggression Scale (VAS). A multivariate analysis of variance test, Pearson Correlation, and analyzing mediating variable interaction is used to analyze data.Results: The findings suggested a significant interaction between personality traits, specifically extraversion and neuroticism, and physical aggression, verbal aggression, and anger. Students with higher levels of personality had higher levels of verbal aggression, and students with higher levels of physical aggression and anger had stronger personality traits than others and lower levels of physical aggression and anger. Personality traits, specifically extraversion, and neuroticism, differed significantly by gender and school years in adolescence. Mediation analysis revealed a positive and statistically significant indirect correlation between personality traits and physically aggressive behavior, with anger as a mediator. Similarly, a positive and statistically significant indirect correlation between personality traits and verbally aggressive behavior through anger was found. The relationship between personality traits and physical aggression was also significant via verbal aggression and anger.Conclusion: This study improved our understanding of personality traits and verbal or physical aggression. Most crucially, physical and verbal aggression mediate personality traits and aggressive conduct. In secondary school, gender and school year affected extraversion and neuroticism. This discovery illuminates personality-based aggressiveness intervention.Keywords: adolescent, personality, aggressive behavior, physical aggression, verbal aggression

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