International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780200201505038396ENIsfahan Welfare Organization, Isfahan, IranChild Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranChild Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan Iran20150503<strong>Background:</strong> Although the overwhelming majority of Iranian adolescents are well‑adjusted, a substantial group exhibits high levels of maladjustment and deficient functioning. Escalation of criminal violence among the youth population has become a major public policy issue and a serious public health problem. In reviewing a 10‑year literature, this article aimed to describe and propose primary assumptions regarding the correlates of aggressive and violent behaviors in Iranian adolescents and youth.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> Bibliographic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar along with Iranian databases including PubMed, IranMedex, Magiran, Irandoc, Psychoinfo, and Emrofor Scientific Information Database, and&nbsp; Magiran constituted the databases which we searched for the relevant literature. Overall&nbsp; 98 articles met the inclusion criteria, allowing us to initiate the discussion.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> Reportedly, prevalence of violence and aggression among the Iranian adolescents and youth ranged from 30% to 65.5% while males being 2&frac12; times more affected than females. The role of gender, family environment, family size, socioeconomic status, and victimization in perpetuating the circumstances was apparent.<br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Relatively high prevalence of violence and aggression among Iranian youth and adolescents is a warning sign and a great challenge to the social system. Reviewed studies suffer from certain methodological and conceptual limitations. Undertaking community‑based studies to estimate the actual extent of the problem is warranted.<br /><strong>Keywords: </strong>Adolescents, aggression, Iranian youth, school mental health, violencehttp://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1510http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1510/1805