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Physical Aggression and Mindfulness among College Students: Evidence from China and the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Gao

    (Division of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai 200433, China)

  • Lu Shi

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson Univistry, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Kelly C. Smith

    (Department of Philosophy and Religion, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Jeffery B. Kingree

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson Univistry, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

  • Martie Thompson

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson Univistry, Clemson, SC 29634, USA)

Abstract

Background : The link between trait mindfulness and several dimensions of aggression (verbal, anger and hostility) has been documented, while the link between physical aggression and trait mindfulness remains less clear. Method : We used two datasets: one United States sample from 300 freshmen males from Clemson University, South Carolina and a Chinese sample of 1516 freshmen students from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. Multiple regressions were conducted to examine the association between mindfulness (measured by Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS)) and each of the four subscales of aggression. Results : Among the Clemson sample ( N = 286), the mindfulness scale had a significant negative association with each of the four subscales of aggression: Hostility: β = −0.62, p < 0.001; Verbal: β = −0.37, p < 0.001; Physical: β = −0.29, p < 0.001; Anger: β = −0.44, p < 0.001. Among the Shanghai male subsample, the mindfulness scale had a significant negative association with each of the four subscales of aggression: Hostility: β = −0.57, p < 0.001; Verbal: β = −0.37, p < 0.001; Physical: β = −0.35, p < 0.001; Anger: β = −0.58, p < 0.001. Among the Shanghai female subsample ( N = 512), the mindfulness scale had a significant negative association with each of the four subscales of aggression: Hostility: β = −0.62, p < 0.001; Verbal: β = −0.41, p < 0.001; Physical: β = −0.52, p < 0.001; and Anger: β = −0.64, p < 0.001. Discussion : Our study documents the negative association between mindfulness and physical aggression in two non-clinical samples. Future studies could explore whether mindfulness training lowers physical aggression among younger adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Gao & Lu Shi & Kelly C. Smith & Jeffery B. Kingree & Martie Thompson, 2016. "Physical Aggression and Mindfulness among College Students: Evidence from China and the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-7, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:5:p:480-:d:69771
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yu Gao & Lu Shi, 2015. "Mindfulness, Physical Activity and Avoidance of Secondhand Smoke: A Study of College Students in Shanghai," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Ian Janssen & William Boyce & William Pickett, 2012. "Screen time and physical violence in 10 to 16-year-old Canadian youth," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 57(2), pages 325-331, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liuna Geng & Jian Wang & Liping Cheng & Binbin Zhang & Hui Shen, 2019. "Mindful Learning Improves Positive Feelings of Cancer Patients’ Family Caregivers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-9, January.

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