Aggression in children and adolescents in rural Poland - where to look for the cause?

The aim of this study was to analyze the causes of aggressive behaviors among children from rural areas, including the role of the environment. We used Pub Med and Google Scholar electronic databases for a literature review. Publications written in English and Polish were included in the analysis. The following keywords were used: aggression, children and adolescents, rural areas. Aggression is a type of negative behavior with the intent to harm or destroy. It usually arises as a direct or delayed effect of frustration or deprivation. The place of residence strongly affects the determinants of risky behaviors in children and adolescents. The most common risk factors for violence among rural children and adolescents include improper parental conduct, failures at school, health-threatening behaviors, violent scenes seen by young people in television programs and films. The changes currently transpiring in rural areas to the traditional family model and increased access to media determine the adoption of behaviors with elements of aggression; although it seems that in rural areas, these phenomena occur much more slowly than in cities. Thus far only a few studies indicated that aggression occurred more frequently among children and adolescents from rural areas. This phenomenon requires further research.