The relationship between family aggression history and expressed aggression among college males

The relationship between family of origin aggression and aggression across numerous relationship types was examined among a sample of 197 college-aged males. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire assessing the fr equency and severity of family aggression (aggression between parents, pare ntal aggression directed toward participants), as well as the frequency and severity of participants' aggression across a number of relationship types (dating, friends, strangers, people in bars, co-workers, bosses, police of ficers). The results of the present study indicate that a substantial propo rtion of college-aged males report a history of aggressive behavior, both i n dating/spousal relationship and other-relationship types. Analyses reveal ed that observing parental aggression and receiving aggression from parents was related to aggression in dating relationships. However, only received aggression from parents was related to more general aggressiveness in other non-dating/spousal relationship types. The pattern of findings also sugges t that it is important to assess the aggressive behavior of both parents to get a better understanding of the link between family aggression and later expressed agression. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.