Childhood interparental aggression exposure and resting skin conductance level moderate the link between childhood harsh parenting and later relational aggression

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic - Biological Processes: Psychophysiology

Abstract

Exposure to harsh parenting and interparental aggression during childhood have been associated with later aggression. Interparental aggression often co-occurs with harsh parenting. Interparental aggression and harsh parenting have been found to influence the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. However, we know little about whether SNS moderates effects of family aggression on later aggressive behavior. The goal of this study is to examine whether interparental aggression and SNS activity, measured by resting skin conductance level (SCL), moderate the link between harsh parenting and later aggression among emerging adults. Participants (N= 151, mean age =19.37, 87 females, 67% White, 9% Hispanic, 15% Black, 3% Asian, 6% Biracial) reported retrospectively on experiences of harsh parenting and interparental aggression from age 0 to 12 as well as their current proactive, reactive, and total relational aggression level. In addition, we measured resting SCL. Regression analysis examined whether harsh parenting experienced during childhood, interparental aggression, resting SCL, and their interactions accounted for current relational aggression. Analyses revealed that the 3-way interaction between harsh parenting, interparental aggression, and resting SCL significantly accounted for reactive relational aggression (β= -0.43, t(142) = -2.06, p = 0.041) and total relational aggression (β= -0.46, t(137) = -2.12, p = 0.036). Probing these interactions revealed that the link between harsh parenting, and reactive and total relational aggression was stronger at high values of interparental aggression and low values of SCL. Our findings indicated that low SCL and higher levels of interparental aggression may increase the link between harsh parenting and later aggressive behavior.

Authors

• Li Shen Chong, State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany)
  Presenting Author

• Edward Merritt, State University of New York at Albany
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elana B. Gordis, State University of New York at Albany
  Non-Presenting Author