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Cited by 128Bullying, Victimization, and AggressionEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorCrime Patterns and Interventions

Sex differences in adolescent physical aggression: Evidence from sixty‐three low‐and middle‐income countries

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Nivette, Amy, Sutherland, Alex, Eisner, Manuel, Murray, Joseph·2019·Aggressive Behavior
DOI 10.1002/ab.21799PMC PMC6950221
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Abstract

A great deal of research shows that adolescent and adult males are more likely to engage in physical aggression and violence than females are. However, few studies have examined cross‐cultural variation in sex differences, particularly among low‐ and middle‐income countries [LMICs]. Based on social role and sexual selection theories, we derived two hypotheses regarding possible variations in sex differences across societal contexts: 1) sex differences increase with societal gender polarization (social role theory) and 2) sex differences are exacerbated in societies where socio‐economic opportunities are scarce, unequal, or insecure (prediction derived from sexual selection theory). The current study examined the prevalence of and variation in sex differences in physical aggression, as measured by frequent fighting, among 247,909 adolescents in 63 low‐ and middle‐income countries. The results show that, overall, males were over twice as likely (OR = 2.68; 95% CI = 2.60–2.76) to report frequent fighting in the past 12 months than females. However, sex differences vary significantly across LMICs, wherein countries with higher female prevalence rates have smaller sex differences in frequent fighting. Contrary to expectations derived from social role theory, sex differences in physical aggression decrease as societal gender inequality increased. In regards to sexual selection theory, we find no evidence that sex differences in frequent fighting varies according to societal rule of law or income inequality.

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  • Both the old analyses and the new analyses indicated that there are sex differences in Aggressive behavior toward others; there are higher levels for men in almost all types of aggression (e.g., physical, verbal; odds ratio = 2.68, SMDs = 0.29-0.62).

    “Both the old analyses and the new analyses indicated that there are sex differences in Aggressive behavior toward others; there are higher levels for men in almost all types of aggression (e.g., physical, verbal; odds ratio = 2.68, SMDs = 0.29–0.62; Archer, 2004; Card et al., 2008; Nivette et al., 2019).”

    From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Nivette et al., 2019

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  • This pattern is also present for Aggressive behavior (frequency of fighting) in the old analyses, which found that men engage more in frequent fighting in countries with higher living conditions.

    “This pattern is also present for Aggressive behavior (frequency of fighting) in the old analyses, which found that men engage more in frequent fighting in countries with higher living conditions (Nivette et al., 2019).”

    From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Nivette et al., 2019

    The Results report that adolescent males had higher odds of frequent fighting than females across 63 low- and middle-income countries. They also report more frequent fighting among adolescents in countries with stronger rule of law, but no significant interaction between rule of law and sex. The paper does not establish that men specifically fight more in countries with higher living conditions; rule of law is not a measure of living standards. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. United Nations Development Programme. (2016). Human development report 2016. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  2. Wood, W., & Eagly, A. (2010). Gender In Fiske S., Gilbert D., & Lindzey G. (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology (pp. 629– 667). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

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Authors
Nivette, A., Sutherland, A., Eisner, M., & Murray, J.
Affiliations
  • Utrecht University (NL)
  • RAND Europe (GB)
  • University of Cambridge (GB)
  • Universidade Federal de Pelotas (BR)
Corresponding author
Nivette, Amy
ORCID
Venue
Aggressive Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2018-10-03
Volume
45
Issue
1
Pages
82-92
ISSN
  • 0096-140X (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-2337
DOI
10.1002/ab.21799
PMC
PMC6950221
OpenAlex
W2895523185
Cited by
128
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1
FWCI
24.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Aggressive Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Apollo (cc-by)
Funders
Wellcome Trust Fellowship (089963/Z/09/Z)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
Keywords
sex differences, low- and middle-income countries, cross-cultural variation, social role theory, sexual selection theory, gender inequality, rule of law, income inequality, violence against women
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Aggression, Developing Countries, Female, Humans, Male, Poverty, Sex Characteristics, Socioeconomic Factors, Violence

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