Aggression is defined as a form of physical or verbal behavior leading to self- assertion; it is often angry and destructive and intended to be injurious, physically or emotionally and aimed at domination of one person by another. It may arise from innate drives and/or be a response to frustration and may be manifested by overt attacking and destructive behavior, by covert attitudes of hostility and obstructionism, or by a healthy self-expressive drive to mastery.

Well-documented research cites trauma, socioeconomic status, education, peer effects, parental bonding, nutrition, and sleep habits as clear contributors to a child’s overall health outcomes. But one unique area of research — and one not often addressed — has shown that the role of the parental couple’s relationship also has a hugely significant effect on the health of their children.

The COVID-19 pandemic has, among other things, had the paradoxical effect of forcing many people away from their casual social interactions while at the same time placing them in prolonged forced sequester with their intimate partners. While the effects of this sudden shift are bound to be considerable, they are unlikely to be straightforward.