THE IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND SELF-CRITICISM ON AGGRESSION WITH MODERATING ROLE OF LONELINESS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Aggression is a behavior that can harm individual itself and as well as other person. The study aimed to investigate the impact of psychological distress and self-criticism on aggression with moderating role of loneliness in university students. Data was collected from different universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The sample was comprised of girls (n=150) and boys (n=150) with age range between18-26 years. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit the research participants. Self-report measures including, The Aggression Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Revised Ucla Loneliness Scale and the Self-Rating Scale were used to assess study variables. Result revealed significant positive relationship between self-criticism, psychological distress, loneliness and aggression. Findings revealed self-criticism and loneliness as a significant positive predictors of aggression. Loneliness did not emerge as a significant moderator on the relationship between psychological distress, self-criticism and aggression. Significant gender differences suggested that boys have high level of self-criticism as compared to girls. The research created awareness that decreasing the level of psychological distress, loneliness and self-criticism in university students can help in the management of aggression.