Psychological maltreatment and aggression in preadolescence: Roles of temperamental effortful control and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies

Abstract

BackgroundAggression is a type of externalization problem, which is common in preadolescence. The cause of preadolescents' aggression can be traced to their adverse family experiences, such as childhood psychological maltreatment. Therefore, exploring the cause and mechanism underlying aggressive behavior in preadolescents who have experienced psychological maltreatment is critical to preadolescents' healthy development. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to explore the mediating effects of effortful control and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between psychological maltreatment and aggressive behavior among preadolescents. Participants and settingA total sample of 940 preadolescents (50.53 % males and 49.47 % females, Mage = 9.75 years, SD = 1.17) were selected from two primary schools in Liaoning province, China. All preadolescents were in grades 3–5. MethodsThe participants completed questionnaires regarding psychological maltreatment, effortful control, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and aggression. ResultsThe results revealed that: (a) psychological maltreatment was positively associated with aggressive behavior; and (b) effortful control and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation mediated the link between psychological maltreatment and aggression in a sequential pattern. ConclusionsThe present study provides further understanding of the relations between psychological maltreatment and aggression, and it also provides prevention and intervention suggestions concerning how to reduce the effect of psychological maltreatment on aggressive behavior among preadolescents.