Cultural Differences in the Development of Childhood Aggression

• In Event: Age, Culture, and Crime

Abstract

In an era of increasing globalization and multiculturalism, the role of immigration has been somewhat neglected in criminological research. This is especially true regarding the development of antisocial behavior among different cultural groups. Studies suggest that there are differences in delinquency and offending for immigrants compared to native-born individuals, but little research has examined these differences in earlier developmental periods. Using the first two waves of the Vancouver Longitudinal Study on the Psychosocial Development of Children (British Columbia, Canada), the current study examines the development of childhood aggression among a culturally diverse sample. Semi-structured interviews were completed with 240 mothers and their children. The children (boys and girls) were 3, 4, and 5 years old at the first interviews, and follow-ups were conducted approximately one year later. Several differences between immigrant and non-immigrant mothers emerged for a number of socio-demographic, historical, and criminogenic factors. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted to examine how immigration influences the relationship between maternal factors (e.g., parenting, mental health) and children’s aggression. Results suggest that some of the predictors of childhood aggression are culturally specific. Findings are discussed in light of the developmental literature on the origins of aggression and antisocial behavior.

Authors

• Stacy Tzoumakis, Simon Fraser University

• Patrick Lussier, Laval University

• Raymond R. Corrado, Simon Fraser University