Emotion regulation skills and aggressive behaviors of preschool children: A longitudinal pattern research

In this study, the relationships between emotion regulation skills and aggressive behaviors of preschool children were examined in a longitudinal design. The sample of the study consisted of 289 children attending preschool education in Alanya District Center of Antalya. The data were obtained with the help of 'Aggression Tendency Scale' and 'Emotion Regulation Scale'. Children's aggression levels were assessed by their teachers and emotion regulation skills were assessed by their mothers in two different time periods. The first measurement was conducted in October-November 2022 and the second measurement was conducted in May-Jun2023. The data obtained were analyzed using independent sample t test, paired sample t test and path analysis. According to the results of the study, physical aggression levels of preschool children were significantly higher for boys in both measurements, but relational aggression did not differ significantly by gender in terms of both measurements. According to another result obtained, it was seen that physical and relational aggression levels of preschool children increased from the first to the second measurement (in a period of approximately seven months), but this increase caused a significant difference only in the context of relational aggression. According to the last result of the study, the first measurement emotion regulation skills of preschool children did not significantly predict the second measurement aggression levels. The results obtained were discussed within the scope of the related literature and suggestions for both practitioners and researchers were presented.