The Influence of Harsh Parenting on Adolescent Aggression Tendencies: The Chain Mediating Role of Hostile Attribution Bias and Anger Rumination

Objective: This study investigates the multifaceted impact of parental harsh parenting on adolescents’ aggressive tendencies and further explores the mediating roles of hostile attribution bias and anger rumination in this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to a sample of 606 Chinese high school students (Mage = 15.48 years, SD=0.52; 42.58% female). The questionnaire used in this study includes the Harsh Parenting Scale, the Hostile Attribution Subscale of the Word Sentence Association Paradigm, the Angry Ruminative Thinking Scale, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Data analysis employed structural equation modeling (SEM) with bootstrapping procedures to test the hypothesized direct and indirect pathways. Results: Harsh parenting positively predicts adolescent aggression tendencies; Both hostile attribution bias and anger rumination exhibited separate mediating roles in the relationship between harsh parenting and aggressive tendencies. Additionally, a chain mediation effect was observed, whereby harsh parenting influenced aggressive tendencies through the sequential pathways of hostile attribution bias and anger rumination. Conclusion: Parental harsh parenting not only directly leads to increased aggression in adolescents, but also indirectly elevates the frequency of aggressive behaviors by enhancing their hostile attribution bias and anger rumination.