TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1995//
TI  - Child physical abuse and aggression: preliminary findings on the role of internalizing problems
JO  - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
A1  - Scerbo, A. S.
A1  - Kolko, David J.
SP  - 1060
EP  - 1066
VL  - 34
IS  - 8
N2  - 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).<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0890-8567
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199508000-00016
ID  - ref1
ER  -