Psychology of Violence, Vol 16(3), May 2026, 278-289; doi:10.1037/vio0000632
Objective: The comorbidity of depression and aggression has a significant impact on the college students’ mental health and daily functioning. However, the relationship between the two remains inconclusive. This study, grounded in the network theory of psychopathology, aimed to explore the interaction between depression and aggression from a symptom network perspective. Method: A total of 2,555 Chinese college students (51.9% female) participated in this study, completing a series of self-report measures twice over 6 months. A longitudinal design was employed to construct a cross-lagged panel network of depression and aggression, with a particular focus on gender differences in symptom connectivity. Results: The findings indicated that depression played a dominant role in its interaction with aggression, a pattern observed in both males and females. However, the influence of depression on aggression was more pronounced in males, whereas the influence of aggression on depression was stronger in females. Furthermore, distinct key bridging symptoms were identified in the networks of males and females. Conclusion: This study provides empirical support for the acting-out model in explaining the relationship between depression and aggression among college students. Furthermore, it offers evidence-based recommendations for psychological interventions targeting depressive and aggressive symptoms, with particular attention to gender-specific differences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)