Daily exposure to a violent environment and aggressive behavior among special-school students: Impulsiveness as a mediator

We explored the mediating role of impulsiveness in the relationship between daily exposure to a violent environment and aggressive behavior among 780 special-school students. Participants completed the Chinese versions of the Community Experiences Questionnaire, the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. The results showed that exposure to an environment where there is violence every day and impulsiveness were positively correlated with aggressive behavior, and that daily exposure to a violent environment and impulsiveness were significantly and positively associated. Furthermore, the relationship between daily exposure to a violent environment and aggressive behavior was mediated by impulsiveness. Our findings indicate that lowering the level of exposure to a violent environment can help special-school students reduce their aggressive behavior.