Association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors: mediating and moderating influences in childhood trauma and life events among Chinese adolescents

Tingyu Yang,Jianbo Liu,Yuqiong He,Shuxian Wu,Xilong Cui,Xuerong Luo

doi:10.1186/s12991-021-00371-1

Abstract

BackgroundThis study investigated an association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors in Chinese adolescents, and explored the underlying mechanism.MethodsThe data of 3094 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years were collected from an epidemiological survey in China. All the subjects or their parents completed the Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Adolescent Self-rating Life Event Checklist (ASLEC).ResultsRelative to the non-schizoid group, adolescents with schizoid tendencies (male or female) showed significantly higher scores for aggressive behaviors, emotional abuse, and ASLEC. Regarding females only, those with schizoid tendencies had significantly higher (lower) scores for physical abuse and emotional neglect (physical neglect). The aggressive behaviors score was predicted by scores for schizoid tendencies (βmale = 0.620, βfemale = 0.638, both P < 0.001) and ASLEC (βmale = 0.125, βfemale = 0.061, both P < 0.01), and by childhood trauma score (males: emotional neglect [β = 0.045, P = 0.021]; females: emotional abuse and sexual abuse [β = 0.118 and − 0.062, both P < 0.01]). The ASLEC and childhood trauma scores mediated the association between scores for schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors, specifically, emotional neglect (emotional abuse and sexual abuse) in males (females). In females, the interaction between scores for childhood trauma and ASLEC affected the aggressive behaviors score (P = 0.023).ConclusionsSchizoid tendencies are associated with aggressive behaviors among Chinese adolescents. Recent life events and childhood trauma mediated an association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors. The interaction between childhood trauma and recent life events affected aggressive behaviors in females. Aggressive behaviors in adolescents may be ameliorated by reducing childhood trauma and life events.

Highlights

This study investigated an association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors in Chinese adolescents, and explored the underlying mechanism
Scores for aggressive behaviors, Adolescent Self-rating Life Event Checklist (ASLEC), and each dimension of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire‐Short Form (CTQ‐SF), of the groups with or without schizoid tendencies In males, the scores for aggressive behaviors, emotional abuse, and ASLEC were significantly higher in the group with schizoid tendencies compared with the non-schizoid tendencies group (Table 1)
The aggressive behaviors score significantly correlated with the ASLEC score and each of the scores of the 4 dimensions of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF)

Summary

Introduction

This study investigated an association between schizoid tendencies and aggressive behaviors in Chinese adolescents, and explored the underlying mechanism. Other study reported a 26.6% rate of behavioral aggression among patients with schizophrenia [5]. Psychotic symptoms among people with schizophrenia are a risk factor of aggressive behavior [5, 6]. According to Johns et al [7], psychotic symptoms exist in people with schizophrenia, and in the general population, including adolescents. A systematic review and metaanalysis of population-based studies reported that psychotic symptoms occurred among 24.5% of children and adolescents [8]. Considering that adolescents in the general population have aggressive behaviors [9], exploring the association between their aggressive behaviors and psychotic symptoms becomes important

Results

Discussion

Conclusion