Patterns of Aggression and Their Determinants in Adolescents and Young Adults: Latent Profile Analysis

<ns3:p>The aim of the study was to capture the within-group variability of individuals presenting different types and levels of aggressive behaviour. 448 participants aged between 16 and 25 years took part in the study. Respondents completed a questionnaire on aggression, social empathy, self-esteem and social competence. A person-centred approach was used in the research method. Latent profile analysis was used to identify common patterns of aggressive individuals. Next, comparisons were made between profiles of determinants of aggression, such as empathy, self-esteem or social competence. Finally, regression analysis was used to predict of different dimensions of aggression by independent variables treated as psychological resources of individuals. Based on latent profile analysis, four intensity profiles of different types of aggression were identified. It was found that individuals with different aggression profiles (low, medium, high) were characterised by different levels of cognitive empathy, affective empathy, altruism, interpersonal flexibility, self-esteem, and social competence. Furthermore, empathy, interpersonal flexibility and self-esteem were found to be the strongest predictors of youth aggression. The results of the study acknowledge the need to increase knowledge about psychological processes that foster or inhibit aggressive behaviour and have important practical implications. The results indicate the need to tailor appropriate interventions, prevention, and treatment programmes to the personality profiles of aggressive adolescents and young adults, particularly as regards the risk of social maladjustment.</ns3:p>