Trajectories of Loneliness and Aggression From Childhood to Early Adolescence in Taiwan: The Roles of Parenting and Demographic Predictors

This study examines three parenting behaviors (support, involvement, and harsh control) in predicting children's loneliness and aggression across developmental transitions to adolescence in a Taiwanese sample. Two cohorts (n = 4,990) were followed for 5 years: a younger cohort (first-graders, 51.5%) and an older cohort (fourth-graders). Multilevel modeling for change across time was used to examine the baseline and rate of change of child outcomes. Overall, loneliness decreased and aggression increased across time. Maternal involvement predicted less loneliness at the baseline and a faster decreasing rate of loneliness. Harsh control predicted more aggression and support predicted less aggression at the baseline. Girls showed a faster increasing rate of aggression and slower declining rate of loneliness than boys. The findings highlight the need to identify effective parenting behaviors for loneliness and aggression with acknowledgment of cultural beliefs, and address girls' aggression. Implications for prevention/intervention in children's social functioning problems were discussed.