Exploring the Relationship Between Aggressive Behavior, Family Parenting Styles, and Self-Esteem Among Only-Child College Students in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The prevalence of aggressive behavior among adolescents in higher education settings, particularly within the unique context of China's one-child policy, has become an increasingly significant issue. This study aims to elucidate the interplay between aggressive behaviors, parenting styles, and self-esteem among college students who are only children. Methods: Conducted as a cross-sectional study from September 2022 to September 2023, the research involved a sample of students from four higher education institutions in Anhui Province, employing a convenience sampling method stratified by year of study and academic major. A total of 5,700 college students participated, with 5,431 valid responses obtained, resulting in a 95.28% validity rate. The average age of the participants was 19.16 ± 1.1 years, with 50.19% male and 49.81% female. The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), a revised Chinese version of the short Egan's Memories of Parents' Education (s-EMBU) questionnaire, and the French version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (R-SES) were utilized to assess levels of aggression, parental styles, and self-esteem, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS26.0 and SPSS PROCESS Macro. Results: The findings revealed that only children exhibited significantly higher levels of physical aggression (19.26±5.33 vs 18.41±4.87, p < 0.001) and hostility (18.64±5.68 vs 18.30±5.33, p = 0.046) compared to their non-only child peers. Regression analysis showed that both paternal (β = 0.670, p = 0.004) and maternal rejection (β = 1.095, p < 0.001) positively predicted aggressive behavior, while self-esteem negatively correlated with aggression (β = -0.375, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis indicated that self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between parental rejection and aggression, accounting for 6.90% and 6.54% of the variance in paternal and maternal rejection, respectively. This suggests that self-esteem nurturing may be a potential strategy to reduce aggression among only-child college students. Conclusion: The study concludes that nurturing self-esteem among only-child college students in China may be a pivotal strategy in curbing aggressive behaviors, underscoring the necessity to comprehend the intricate relationship between parenting styles, self-esteem, and aggression. The insights gained from this research are instrumental in enhancing social cohesion by addressing the distinctive needs of this demographic.