The association between parental migration and five subtypes of aggression by sex: A cross-sectional study of 20,484 Chinese adolescents.

Previous studies have found that parental migration is a risk factor for aggressive behavior in adolescents. However, the findings for five aggression subtypes are inconsistent. Besides, sex differences and the association between specific characteristics of parental migration (e.g., type, duration, age, contact frequency) and adolescent aggression have rarely been investigated. Given the importance of these questions in the prevention and intervention of adolescent aggression, we conducted this study to further explore these issues. Data were collected from 20,484 students (10,175 males, aged 12-18 years) in five provinces in China. Validated measures were used to investigate parental migration information and aggression. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationships between parental migration and aggression by sex, and the association between parental migration characteristics and aggression. Results showed that among the five subtypes of aggression, parental migration was only associated with hostility and indirect aggression, and were observed only among male adolescents. Furthermore, paternal migration, the duration of parental migration over 6 years, age below 2 years at the time of parental first migration, and contact less than weekly were associated with increased risk of certain types of aggressive behavior. Sex and parental migration characteristics should be taken into account in subsequent prevention and interventions for adolescent aggression. In particular, those adolescent males who have been separated from their immigrant father for more than 6 years before 2 years and who have contact with their parents less than once a week should be given the highest priority in aggression interventions.