Transactions between Mother-to-Child Verbal and Physical Aggression and Children’s Internalizing Problems

• In Event: 2-143 - Adversity, Victimization, and Aggression: Longitudinal Impact on Children’s Health and Psychosocial Adaptation

Integrative Statement

Violent parental behaviors have been demonstrated to be associated with the presence and worsening of internalizing problems (IP) throughout childhood (Rosen et al., 2018). While these parent-driven effects are well documented, it is only recently that studies have begun investigating the presence of child-driven (children’s IP being associated with increased violent behaviors) as well as transactional effects (IP and violent behaviors fueling one another over time) between these variables. Investigations of these effects are consistent with transactional (Sameroff, 2009) and developmental psychopathology (Cicchetti, 2006) models of development. The few available studies tend to confirm that child-driven and transactional effects take place (e.g., Serbin et al., 2015), but results have been mixed. Furthermore, some studies only have two-wave designs that do not allow for the identification of transactional processes. Available data often cover short periods of time, involving one or two developmental periods. Finally, studies usually measure the broad construct of “harsh parenting/discipline” instead of more fine-grained constructs such as physical and verbal aggression, preventing a deeper understanding of the specific impact of these parental behaviors. The present study was designed to address these gaps by investigating the presence of transactions between mother-to-child verbal and physical aggression and children’s IP from early school age to adolescence in an at-risk disadvantaged community sample using a multi-informant perspective. A sample of mother-child dyads (n = 175; 53.7% girls) was drawn from the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project, a prospective longitudinal and intergenerational project. Children’s IP were assessed by mothers and teachers (CBCL; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) at ages 6-8, 9-11, and 13-17, and mothers also reported on their verbal and physical aggression (CTS; Straus et al., 1996). Two cross-lagged models were tested, one with mothers’ and one with teachers’ reports of IP. Models integrated both verbal and physical aggression as separate but correlated constructs. Results (Figure 1) revealed the presence of a transactional process with IP as reported by the mothers: children’s IP in early childhood were associated with increased verbal aggression in middle childhood that was in turn associated with increasing IP in adolescence. A child-driven effect was also identified between IP in early childhood and physical aggression in middle childhood. Fewer cross-lagged associations were identified with teachers’ reports: verbal and physical aggression in middle childhood were associated with increased IP in adolescence. Together, these results suggest the presence of mutually enhancing parent-driven and child-driven effects over time. However, results differed across informants and types of aggression, supporting the relevance of a multi-informant perspective and more detailed measures of parents’ violent behaviors. Since important transitions occur between 6 and 17 years of age, mothers’ aggression and children’s IP could compromise successful resolution of stage-salient tasks. Prevention and intervention initiatives should consider the transactions occurring in the mother-child relationship to promote positive adaptation and optimal development in at-risk children and families.

Authors

• Rachel Langevin, McGill University
  Presenting Author

• Dale M. Stack, Concordia University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Daniel J. Dickson, Concordia University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lisa A. Serbin, Concordia University
  Non-Presenting Author