Effect of self-control on aggression among students in China: A meta-analysis

Although several theories argue that self-control is negatively related to aggression, studies show mixed results. Hence, our meta-analysis determined the overall relation between self-control and aggression (or their related measures) and moderation effects. Our data consists of 58 studies of 39,116 students in mainland China without physiological or psychological illnesses (effect sizes measured via r or equivalent). Self-control and aggression have a medium negative correlation. Moderator analysis showed that this correlation was stronger (a) among middle-school students and university undergraduates than among primary school students, (b) among samples with more males (rather than females), and (c) when using the Aggression Questionnaire rather than other aggression measures. Self-control measure and publication type did not moderate the link between self-control and aggression. Hence, self-control has a substantial negative link with aggression, moderated by age, gender, and aggression measure.