AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN MALE 10 TO 12 YEARS OF BELONGING TO SCHOOLS VALPARAÍSO

Abstract

Objective: To determine the extent of aggressive behavior and identify the distribution of level of aggressiveness as individual, family and institutional, in boys 10-12 years old from municipal schools, subsidized private and paid particular ones in Valparaiso District. Material and Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study. Sample corresponding to 8.4% of the universe of students enrolled in the district of Valparaíso, 2006. An inquiry with closed questions was used, divided into four parts measuring aggressive behavior and the factors studied. Four levels of aggressiveness were determined: high, medium, low and without aggressiveness. Results show that 21.4% of those children react to different situations with a high or medium level of aggressiveness. The factors statistically significant at an individual level were the use of alcohol and drugs, situation which is common among boys with a high level of aggressiveness. At a family level, the highest percentage of boys presenting high aggressiveness has received physical punishment (79.2%) and their upbringing pattern has been inconsistent (33.3%). At an institutional level, the children with a high level of aggressiveness go mainly to municipal schools (83.3%) and small schools (54.2%). It is concluded that knowing the level of aggressive behavior and the associated factors is essential for directing the prevention of this behavior, especially by means of the nurses action who are the professionals keeping an early and systematic contact with the family at the Child health Control, where they are able to observe the attachment style, to find out about upbringing practices and to stimulate upbringing patterns focused on the child’s development.