Journal of Child and Adolescent Behavior
Open Access

Positive emotions; Antisocial behavior; Children and adolescents; Systematic review; Emotional development; Behavioral outcomes

Introduction

Positive emotions are crucial for healthy psychological development, fostering resilience, social connections, and overall well-being in children and adolescents. Traditionally, research has emphasized the association between positive affect and pro-social behaviors, suggesting that individuals experiencing positive emotions are more likely to engage in altruism, cooperation, and supportive interactions [1]. However, a growing body of literature suggests that positive emotions may also have complex and potentially negative consequences, particularly concerning antisocial behaviors. Antisocial behavior, characterized by actions that harm or lack consideration for the well-being of others, can manifest in various forms, including aggression, delinquency, and rule-breaking. Understanding the relationship between positive emotions and antisocial behavior is essential for developing effective interventions aimed at promoting positive development in youth [2]. This relationship may be influenced by several factors, including environmental contexts, peer dynamics, and individual differences in emotional regulation. The current systematic review aims to explore the multifaceted relationship between positive emotions and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents. Specifically, it seeks to address the following questions: What contextual factors influence this relationship, potentially leading to both positive and negative behavioral outcomes? How do individual differences, such as gender and emotional regulation, moderate the relationship between positive emotions and antisocial behavior? By synthesizing findings from relevant studies, this review aims to clarify the complexities surrounding this relationship and inform future research directions and practical applications.

Materials and Methods

This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines [3]. The review focused on peer-reviewed articles that examined the relationship between positive emotions and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years.

Literature Search Strategy: A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple electronic databases, including PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search strategy included a combination of keywords and the search was limited to studies published between 2000 and 2023 to ensure the inclusion of contemporary research findings [4].

Inclusion Criteria: Peer-reviewed empirical studies published in English; research focusing on children and adolescents (ages 6-18) that explicitly measured positive emotions and antisocial behavior; studies utilizing qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches.

Exclusion Criteria: Studies not focused on the specified age group; articles that did not measure both positive emotions and antisocial behavior; non-peer-reviewed studies, opinion pieces, or grey literature (e.g., dissertations, conference abstracts).

Data Extraction and Analysis: Data were extracted from the selected studies, including information on sample size, demographics, methodologies, measures of positive emotions (e.g., self-report questionnaires, behavioral assessments), and indicators of antisocial behavior [5]. The quality of each study was assessed based on methodological rigor, including sample size, study design, and statistical analysis. A thematic synthesis of the findings was conducted to identify common patterns and relationships between positive emotions and antisocial behavior, as well as to highlight contextual and individual factors that may moderate this relationship.

Results and Discussion

The systematic review included a total of 25 studies that met the inclusion criteria, comprising diverse methodologies and populations. The results were synthesized into key themes that emerged regarding the relationship between positive emotions and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents.

The analysis revealed that positive emotions do not uniformly predict antisocial behavior; rather, they can have both positive and negative influences depending on the context [6]. While many studies found that heightened positive emotions often correlated with pro-social behaviors, several studies indicated that, in competitive or high-stress situations, these same emotions could lead to impulsive and aggressive actions. One study found that children who exhibited high levels of joy during competitive play were more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors if they perceived a threat to their status or winning outcome [7]. Conversely, other studies demonstrated that positive emotional states like happiness and excitement were linked to increased cooperation and decreased aggression in collaborative tasks.

Contextual Factors Influencing Outcomes:

Peer Influence: Studies indicated that the presence of peers could amplify antisocial tendencies when children experienced positive emotions. For example, children who felt happy in group settings were more likely to engage in rule-breaking if encouraged by peers [8].

Environmental Context: Competitive environments, such as sports or academic competitions, were shown to heighten the likelihood of aggressive behavior in children experiencing positive emotions. The drive to succeed often led to unhealthy expressions of positive affect, including hostility towards competitors.

Individual Differences and Gender Variations: The results suggested that individual differences, including emotional regulation and gender, played a crucial role in moderating the relationship between positive emotions and antisocial behavior. Emotional Regulation: Children with better emotional regulation skills tended to convert positive emotions into pro-social actions rather than impulsive or aggressive behaviors [9]. Studies indicated that training in emotional regulation could help mitigate antisocial behaviors in children experiencing high levels of positive affect.

Findings: One longitudinal study found that children who frequently experienced elevated positive emotions displayed higher levels of impulsivity, which correlated with increased aggression over time. Another study suggested that impulsive behaviors resulting from heightened positive emotions might lead to rule-breaking and aggressive acts, especially in unstructured environments [10].

Conclusion

This systematic review highlights the complex and nuanced relationship between positive emotions and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents. While positive emotions can foster pro-social behaviors, they may also lead to impulsivity and aggression under certain conditions. The findings suggest that context plays a critical role in determining whether positive affect translates into constructive or destructive behavior. To mitigate the risks associated with positive emotions leading to antisocial behavior, it is essential for parents, educators, and mental health professionals to foster emotional awareness and regulation skills among youth. Future research should further investigate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to this relationship, considering factors such as peer dynamics, environmental contexts, and individual differences. Understanding the dual nature of positive emotions may provide valuable insights for interventions aimed at promoting healthy emotional development and reducing antisocial tendencies among youth.

Acknowledgement

None

Conflict of Interest

None

References

1. Austin E, Coull B, Thomas D, Koutrakis P (2012) A framework for identifying distinct multipollutant profiles in air pollution data. Environ Int 45: 112-121.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

2. Brunekreef B (1997) Air pollution and life expectancy: is there a relation? Occup Environ Med 54: 781-784.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

3. Ben Maatoug A, Triki MB, Fazel H (2021) How do air pollution and meteorological parameters contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia? Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 28: 44132-44139.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

4. Binaku, Katrina, Schmeling, Martina (2017) Multivariate statistical analyses of air pollutants and meteorology in Chicago during summers 2010-2012. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health 10: 1-10.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

5. Clerbaux C, Boynard A, Clarisse L, George M, Hadji-Lazaro J, et al.(2009) Monitoring of atmospheric composition using the thermal infrared IASI/MetOp sounder. Atmos Chem Phys 9: 6041–6054.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

6. CETESB (2016) Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo.

Google Scholar

7. Kavouras GI, Chalbot MC, Lianou M, Kotronarou A , Christina Vei I, et al. (2013) Spatial attribution of sulfate and dust aerosol sources in an urban area using receptor modeling coupled with Lagrangian trajectories. Pollution Research 4: 346-353.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

8. Chalbot MC, Elroy Mc, Kavouras IG (2013) Sources, trends and regional impacts of fine particulate matter in southern Mississippi valley: significance of emissions from sources in the Gulf of Mexico coast. Atmos Chem Phys 13: 3721–3732.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

9. Dimitriou k, Kassomenos P (2014) A study on the reconstitution of daily PM10 and PM2.5 levels in Paris with a multivariate linear regression model. Atmospheric Environment 98: 648-654.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

10. Dimitriou K, Kassomenos P (2014) Decomposing the profile of PM in two low polluted German cities – Mapping of air mass residence time, focusing on potential long range transport impacts. Environ Pollution 190: 91-100.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref