Use Of Psychological Aggression Research Articles

Psychological Aggression in Couples Seeking Relationship Therapy: A Dyadic Analysis of Individual and Relational Risk Factors

Several studies have investigated the risk factors for the perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) over the years. However, most research on IPV has focused on physical violence, limiting our understanding of psychological aggression. This study addressed this limitation by examining the relative contribution of several individual and relational risk factors (i.e., alcohol and cannabis use, relationship satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and attachment insecurities) with regard to the use of psychological aggression in both partners of couples reporting high relationship distress. The sample included 392 couples seeking relationship therapy. Couples were recruited by their therapist during the first therapy session and the partners completed the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test, the abbreviated Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the abbreviated Experiences in Close Relationships, and the Psychological Symptoms Index. We conducted path analyses based on the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model. When accounting for all factors in a single model, lower relationship satisfaction and higher attachment-related avoidance were associated with both partners’ higher use of psychological aggression. Cannabis use and harmful alcohol use were not associated with the individual’s own use of psychological aggression, but they were associated with their partner’s higher use of psychological aggression. Depressive symptoms and attachment anxiety were not significant predictors of psychological aggression. There were no gender differences in these associations. The findings of the present study suggest that several intrapersonal and interpersonal risk factors explain the use of psychological aggression in couples.

Aggressive parenting behavior among grandparents providing childcare for grandchildren: A case study of Shenzhen, China.

BackgroundGrandparents play an essential role in childrearing and fill the parenting gap for dual-earner Chinese families. Many Chinese grandparents engage heavily in childcare, which may increase the risk of child abuse. ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine grandparental use of psychological and physical aggression toward children and explore its associated risk factors. Participants and settingThis was a cross-sectional study which involved purposive sampling of 278 grandparents (204 females and 74 males) taking care of at least one grandchild below 18 years old in Shenzhen, China. MethodsInformation on childcare was collected, including grandparents' use of psychological and physical aggression and their involvement in childcare in terms of intensity and activity. ResultsAn alarming percentage (57.1 %) of grandparents had used psychological aggression, while 26.5 % had used corporal punishment, in the past year. The average use of psychological aggression and corporal punishment was 16.10 times and 10.08 times per year, respectively. Grandparents taking care of two or more grandchildren were more likely to use psychological aggression and corporal punishment compared to those taking care of only one grandchild. Higher mental and physical health summary scores were associated with lower likelihood of psychological and physical aggression of grandparents. ConclusionsThis study advances our understanding of negative grandparenting behavior in childcare. As grandparents play a significant role in childcare, we need to improve their grandparenting skills, provide more formal childcare services to ease their childcare burden, and support their physical and mental well-being to reduce the risk of child abuse.

The moderating role of three-generation households in the intergenerational transmission of violence

Background & objectiveConsidering the increasing trends in multi-generational living arrangements, the current study aimed to test the intergenerational transmission of violence hypothesis in three-generational households. We also examined whether and how living in a three-generation household would moderate the negative effect of childhood maltreatment on adults’ abusive and neglectful parenting behaviors. MethodWe conducted secondary data analysis using data from the Wisconsin Families Study. The study sample included 727 low-income parents of young children, most of whom were African American women with, on average, a high school diploma. We estimated a series of ordinary least squares regression models. ResultsOur findings indicated that parents who reported a history of childhood abuse, neglect, and witnessing domestic violence showed more frequent use of psychological aggression, physical aggression, and neglectful behavior against their children. Living in a three-generation household played a protective role: The negative effects of a) a history of childhood abuse on the use of neglectful parenting and b) witnessing domestic violence on the use of psychological aggression were reduced for respondents living in a three-generation household (b = −0.11; b = −0.33, ps < 0.05, respectively). ConclusionThe risk of the intergenerational transmission of violence may decrease in three-generation households where parents of young children can meet their needs by sharing family resources or easing the burden of childcare. Further research is needed to identify and specify factors and contexts associated with the beneficial effects of multi-generational living arrangements.

Predictors of parental disciplinary practices and associations with child outcomes among Ghanaian preschoolers

Violent discipline can have harmful effects on child development, particularly behavioral outcomes. The majority of research on the topic has been conducted in high-income countries, despite the fact that high rates of physical discipline have been documented across low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we examined three forms of disciplinary practices—physical, psychological aggression, and nonviolent—among caregivers of preschoolers in Ghana. First, we assessed how child, caregiver, and household characteristics predicted the use of disciplinary practices. Endorsement of physical discipline, having a younger child, lower caregiver education, younger caregiver age, female caregivers, and having a female child were associated with higher use of physical punishment. Household size, female caregivers, endorsement of physical discipline, and having a female child were associated with higher use of psychological aggression. Higher caregiver education and having no male in the household were positively associated with nonviolent punishment practices, while child age was negatively predictive. Second, we examined how punishment practices predicted children’s social-behavioral and academic outcomes. Physical punishment predicted lower approaches to learning and literacy skills, and nonviolent punishment predicted higher approaches to learning, social-emotional skills, and literacy skills. Third, we examined if associations of punishment and child outcomes were moderated by child age and sex. Negative associations of physical punishment with numeracy skills were larger for younger children; negative associations of psychological aggression with social-emotional skills were larger for girls.

Parental Harsh Discipline and Preschooler's Inhibitory Control in China: Bidirectional Relations and Gender Differences.

The goals of this study were to examine the bidirectional associations between parental harsh discipline and Chinese preschool children's inhibitory control and to further explore the possible gender differences in these associations. Participants were Chinese preschool children and their parents. At Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2), both fathers and mothers, respectively, reported their use of psychological aggression and corporal punishment, and children's inhibitory control was assessed by laboratory tasks and maternal rating. Structural equation modeling revealed that child inhibitory control significantly predicted both paternal and maternal psychological aggression and corporal punishment 1 year later, but the predictions from both types of parental harsh discipline to child inhibitory control were nonsignificant. Multiple-group analyses further suggested that boys' but not girls' inhibitory control could significantly predict paternal corporal punishment 1 year later, and no child gender differences existed for parental psychological aggression or for maternal corporal punishment. The findings suggest that the longitudinal associations between parental hash discipline and preschool children's inhibitory control in China may differ according to the types of harsh discipline and parental and children's gender.

Parental Anxiety and Depression Moderate Intergenerational Transmission of Parental Psychological Aggression in China.

The present study examined the intergenerational patterns in the transmission of parental psychological aggression in China and the moderating effects of parental anxiety and depression. Participants were 552 children (Mage = 12.81 years, 250 boys) and their parents who were recruited from two junior high schools in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong Province in China. The results showed that both maternal and paternal psychological aggressions were transmitted in Chinese societies, and maternal but not paternal anxiety and depression moderated the transmission of psychological aggression. The strength of transmission was stronger for mothers with high levels of anxiety and depression than those with low levels of anxiety and depression. The findings highlighted the roles of parental distal (psychological aggression experiences) and proximal (negative emotions) factors in their use of psychological aggression and suggested the need for intervention programs to focus on reduction of parental negative emotions.

Parenting mediates the impact of maternal depression on child internalizing symptoms.

To examine the potential mediating role of parenting behaviors in the longitudinal, bidirectional relationships between maternal depression and child internalizing symptoms (i.e. depression and anxiety). We analyzed data from 4,581 mother-child dyads from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, assessed when the child was 3, 5, and 9 years old. Data included maternal depression diagnosis, child internalizing symptoms, and parenting behaviors (i.e. psychological aggression, nonviolent discipline, and physical assault). Data were analyzed using cross-lagged panel models. Results indicated bidirectional relationships between maternal depression and child internalizing symptoms over childhood. Mediation analyses suggested that maternal depression led to subsequent increased psychological aggression toward their child, which in turn led to increased child internalizing symptoms. Nonviolent discipline and physical assault did not mediate this relationship. However, greater use of nonviolent discipline at age 5 among all parents predicted higher child internalizing symptoms at age 9. No parenting behaviors were both predicted by earlier child internalizing symptoms and predictive of subsequent maternal depression. Our results suggest a bidirectional relationship between child and maternal internalizing psychopathology that is partially explained by depressed mothers' greater use of psychological aggression toward their children. It is important to note that the size of these effects were small, suggesting that the relationship between parent and child psychopathology is likely additionally explained by factors not assessed in the current study. Nonetheless, these results have implications for prevention and intervention strategies targeting child anxiety and depression.

Association between intimate partner violence and child maltreatment in a representative student sample in Hong Kong.

The study examined the prevalence of the co-occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment (CM) to determine whether IPV is a factor associated with the latter. A total of 5,841 students from a representative sample of schools in Hong Kong were surveyed. The results show that the lifetime and preceding-year co-occurrence rates of IPV and CM were 12.3% and 3.6%, respectively. IPV and parents' use of psychological aggression and corporal punishment led to increased odds of physical violence. This study suggests a need for the comprehensive assessment of IPV and CM.

Comprehensive treatment for co-occurring child maltreatment and parental substance abuse: Outcomes from a 24-month pilot study of the MST-Building Stronger Families program

This manuscript presents outcomes from a pilot study of Multisystemic Therapy-Building Stronger Families (MST-BSF), an integrated treatment model for the co-occurring problem of parental substance abuse and child maltreatment among families involved in the child welfare system. Participants were 25 mother-youth dyads who participated in MST-BSF and an additional 18 families with similar demographic and case characteristics who received Comprehensive Community Treatment (CCT). At post-treatment, mothers who received MST-BSF showed significant reductions in alcohol use, drug use, and depressive symptoms; they also significantly reduced their use of psychological aggression with the youth. Youth reported significantly fewer anxiety symptoms following MST-BSF treatment. Relative to families who received CCT, mothers who received MST-BSF were three times less likely to have another substantiated incident of maltreatment over a follow-up period of 24 months post-referral. The overall number of substantiated reabuse incidents in this time frame also was significantly lower among MST-BSF families, and youth who received MST-BSF spent significantly fewer days in out-of-home placements than did their CCT counterparts. These promising preliminary outcomes support the viability of a more rigorous (i.e., randomized) evaluation of the MST-BSF model.

Outcomes of Parental Use of Psychological Aggression on Children: A Structural Model From Sri Lanka

The objective of this study was to explore the existence and, if so, the nature of the association between parental use of psychological aggression and psychological maladjustment in a 12-year-old Sri Lankan school population. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 1,226 children from Colombo district schools. Three instruments, validated in the Sri Lankan context, were used to collect data on children's experience of psychological aggression, its psychological outcomes, and psychosocial correlates. The annual prevalence of psychological aggression reported by the study sample was 75%. A predictive model for psychological outcomes was examined. The experience of psychological aggression was shown to be moderately, but directly and significantly, associated with psychological maladjustment in children. This association was mediated by non-parentto-child violence-the child's knowledge of violence between the parents, experience of teacher violence, exposure to peer violence, and violence in the child's community. However, the child's report of a nurturant parent-child relationship did not impact on the association between psychological aggression and psychological maladjustment. The study also indicated that greater the child's experience of non-parent-to-child violence, the greater is his/her own level of hostility and aggression. These findings show that although many Sri Lankan parents use psychological aggression it has negative consequences for their children.

Physical punishment and long term consequences: the moderating role of parental context

Corporal punishment (CP) is probably the most controversial issue in the literature on parental discipline. Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze if the relation between CP and behavior problems is moderated by a positive parenting context in which CP may be used and by the co-occurrence of psychological aggression. Method: The sample used in this analysis was composed of 1071 Spanish university students (74.8% female; 25.2% male). Results: Findings indicate a high prevalence of CP of Spanish students, revealing that significantly more mothers than fathers used CP. Furthermore, more CP is related to more use of psychological aggression and less of positive parenting. Regression analyses revealed that CP was associated with an increased probability of ATB regardless of whether there was positive parenting and psychological aggression. Conclusions: These results highlight that, though many Spanish parents use CP as a disciplinary strategy, it does appear to be related to negative outcomes for children regardless the parental context in which it is used

The impact of early mental health services on the trajectory of externalizing behavioral problems in a sample of high-risk pre-adolescent children

Although access to mental health services is frequently studied as an issue of health disparity, little is known about the long-term impact of such services on children. The current study examined the relationship between early mental health services (before the age of 4 years old) on the trajectory of externalizing behavioral problems between ages 4 and 10 years old in a sample of 245 low-income urban children. Early mental health services were associated with very high levels of externalizing behavioral problems at baseline (age 4) and with more rapid decline in such behavioral problems between ages 4 and 10. This effect held after controlling for child gender and caregiver use of psychological aggression. As currently administered, early mental health services appear to be associated with early problem behaviors and with improvement in these behaviors over time. Future research and policy efforts should focus on improving both access to mental health services and the quality and utility of these services for children.

Clinically Referred ODD Children with or without CD and Healthy Controls: Comparisons Across Contextual Domains

This study compares 6–11-year-old, clinically referred boys and girls diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, either with (ODD + CD, n = 40) or without Conduct Disorder (ODD only; n = 136), to a matched sample of healthy control children (HC; n = 69). Multiple informants completed intake diagnostic interviews and self-reports to evaluate constructs examining the child’s functioning and contextual influences on functioning (e.g., parent, family, peer, community). ODD + CD and ODD only children were each distinguished from HCs by greater exposure to delinquent peers and lowered parental self-efficacy. In further comparisons to the HC group, ODD only status was associated with parental use of psychological aggression and more stressful life events, whereas ODD + CD status was associated with greater parental hostility. Relative to ODD alone status, ODD + CD status was comparable on all but one variable (greater parental hostility). Similar findings were reported using a subset of girls only. The characteristics that distinguish children with DBDs from controls and, in particular, ODD + CD from ODD only, bear implications for understanding and treating both CD and ODD.

Physical violence and psychological aggression towards children: Five-year trends in practices and attitudes from two population surveys

Objective To present prevalence rates of child psychological aggression and physical violence from a population survey conducted in 2004 and to compare the rates with the rates obtained in the 1999 edition of the survey. Methods The survey used a randomly generated telephone number methodology. Interviews were conducted using a computer-assisted telephone interview system with a representative sample of 3,148 mothers living in Quebec province, Canada. Responses relating to psychological aggression, minor and severe physical violence were collected using the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales. Results Eighty percent of the mothers reported the use of psychological aggression towards a child by an adult living in the household, 43% reported at least one episode of minor violence, and 6% reported at least one episode of severe physical violence. When compared to the 1999 surveys, mothers reported 5% less minor physical violence in 2004, a result that is counterbalanced by a similar significant increase in the report of repeated psychological violence towards children in a year. Results also reveal a significant decrease in attitudes favoring the use of violence for discipline purpose between 2004 and 1999. Conclusions The trends observed in violence towards children over the 5-year period may partly be attributed to a change in mother's attitudes concerning methods of disciplining children. Findings support the need to promote alternative methods of firm discipline that do not involve violence.

Psychological aggression in dating relationships: predictive models for males and females.

Variables related to the use of physical aggression in dating relationships and conflict management strategies were used to predict the use of psychological aggression in courtship. Individual factors (i.e., variables associated with threat susceptibility) and situational variables (i.e., relationship length and emotional commitment to the partner, conflict management strategies, and weekly alcohol intake) were proposed to be important in the prediction of male's and female's use of psychological aggression with their partners. Our findings suggest that these variables successfully predict the use of psychologically aggressive acts in courtship. Further, interactions with sex of participant suggest that different variables are important in the prediction of males' and females' use of such negative behaviors. These differences in the relationships between the predictors and criteria for males and females suggest not only divergent predictive models but also potential motivational differences in the employment of such tactics.

Jealousy induction as a predictor of power and the use of other control methods in heterosexual relationships.

26 male and 87 female college students filled out Stets' Psychological Aggression Scale, Stets' Interpersonal Control Scale, Straus' Physical Violence Scale, and Fisch and Brainerd's Use and Approval of Jealousy-inducing Behaviors Scale. Use and approval of jealousy-inducing behaviors were good predictors of high need for interpersonal control and the use of psychological aggression. The use of jealousy-inducing behaviors but not the approval of these behaviors was a strong predictor of physical aggression in romantic relationships.