The role of trait anxiety in mediating between inter-parental conflict and offspring aggression: a study of two ethnic groups

What is it about?

This study explored how low differentiation of self (DoS) and childhood exposure to inter-parental conflict contribute to aggression among Jewish and Arab young adults in Israel. Arab participants reported higher emotional cutoff, fusion with others, and aggression. Trait anxiety, which varied by gender and ethnicity, was highest among Arab men. Among Jews, anxiety mediated the link between low DoS (specifically I-position) and aggression only in men. Among Arabs, anxiety mediated the impact of both low DoS and inter-parental conflict on aggression for both genders—more strongly in men. Gender moderated how anxiety influenced aggressive behavior

Featured Image