The Association Between the Contraction of Infectious Diseases and Aggressive Behavior at School: A Study Among Adolescents in Ejigbo, Lagos, Nigeria

Authors

  • Olaniyi Makinde Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Vasa, Finland
  • Kaj Björkqvist Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Vasa, Finland
  • Karin Österman Department of Psychology, Åbo Akademi University, Vasa, Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26417/ejser.v7i1.p59-64

Keywords:

Infectious diseases, malaria, typhoid fever, yellow fever, aggression, school

Abstract

The study investigated whether there is an association between the contraction of infectious diseases and peer aggression in a school context. The study was carried out among 284 adolescents (152 girls, 132 boys; M age : 14.2 years, SD : 1.7) in Ejigbo, Lagos, Nigeria. It was measured how frequently the adolescents had contracted malaria, yellow fever, typhoid fever, and cough - flu. Both the perpetration of and victimization from peer aggression at school was measured with an adapted version of the Direct - Indirect Aggression Scales. The results showed a clear association between the contraction of all measured infectious diseases and peer aggression. It is suggested that it is not a question of cause and effect, but that a third factor, possible overcrowding, is a risk factor for both outcomes.

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Published

2022-09-23

How to Cite

Makinde, O., Björkqvist, K., & Österman, K. (2022). The Association Between the Contraction of Infectious Diseases and Aggressive Behavior at School: A Study Among Adolescents in Ejigbo, Lagos, Nigeria. European Journal of Social Science Education and Research, 9(3), 73–80. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejser.v7i1.p59-64