Citation

Bozsik C, Körmendi A, Inántsy-Pap J, Pataky N, Gádoros J, Halasz J. Psychiatr. Hung. 2013; 28(1): 48-56.

Affiliation

Debreceni Egyetem, Pszichologiai Intezet, Debrecen, Hungary, E-mail: bozsikcsilla@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Magyar Pszichiatriai Tarsasag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23689436

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship between the type of physical aggressive behavior, callous/unemotional traits and behavioral problems was extensively studied in the literature, but no similar data exist in Hungarian adolescents. Aim: In the present study, the type of aggressive behavior was assessed in adolescents on a normative sample to study its relationship with callous/unemotional traits and behavioral problems. Sample: 223 students were participated in the study after informed consent (girls, n=106, age: 14.2±1.5 years; boys, n=117, age: 13.9±1.6 years) from primary and secondary schools in Miskolc and adjacent areas. Methods: The Reactive/Proactive Aggression Questionnaire was used to assess the level of aggressive behavior, the Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits was used to measure callous/unemotional traits, while behavioral problems were established by the means of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: In the present non-clinical sample, the level of reactive aggression was higher than the level of proactive aggressive behavior. In boys, proactive and total aggression measures were significantly higher compared to girls. In both genders, reactive aggression was specifically associated with emotional and peer-related problems. Proactive aggression was correlated positively with callous traits in both genders, while self-reported prosocial behavior had an inverse correlation with proactive aggressive behavior in boys. Self reported conduct- and hyperactivity problems were positively correlated with both types of aggressive behavior in both genders. The strongest positive correlation was observed between self-reported conduct symptoms and both types of aggressive behavior. Conclusions: Callous/unemotional traits were related with proactive forms of aggression, similar to literature data. Reactive aggressive behavior was related to peer-related and emotional problems, thus our data outlined the importance of the distinction between the two main types of aggression.

Language: hu