Citation

Scerbo AS, Kolko DJ. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 1995; 34(8): 1060-1066.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney 99004-2431, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/00004583-199508000-00016

PMID

7665445

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test the prediction that the interaction of physical abuse and internalizing problems will heighten levels of aggressive behavior in a group of disruptive children. METHOD: Fifty-two clinic-referred disruptive children (aged 7 through 15 years) were assessed in terms of history of physical abuse, internalizing behavior problems (rated by parents), and aggressive behavior (rated by parents, teachers, and clinic staff). RESULTS: Physically abused children with co-occurring high levels of internalizing problems (based on a median split) exhibited significantly higher levels of aggression as rated by parents (p < .000) and teachers (p < .020) and a trend toward heightened aggression as rated by staff (p < .08). The patterns were similar across the three independent informants and remained regardless of age, gender, or race. CONCLUSIONS: Physical abuse was related to heightened levels of aggression only in those children who also had emotional difficulties. Results lend some support to a transactional model of the development of aggression, suggesting that problems arise out of interactions between child factors (such as internalizing problems) and adverse family experiences (such as physical abuse).

Language: en