Psychosocial pathways from childhood trauma to adulthood aggression

Abstract

The intergenerational transmission of aggression is not a new theory. However, previous research in this area has been flawed by methodological restraints and limitations in its ability to draw meaningful conclusions. In particular, previous studies have predominantly focused on the role of individual factors in the development of aggression in adulthood and have been slow to adopt new statistical methodologies, such as structural equation modelling, which allows for the answering of more complex questions. Thus, the goal of this research was to evaluate a developmental model of response to childhood victimisation that moved beyond looking at singular causative factors; a model that allowed for individual variation in the development of adulthood aggression and enhanced knowledge of the factors that influence the development of aggression in adulthood. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to investigate which factors present in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood contribute to or protect against the development of aggression in adulthood. Structural equation modelling together with more simplistic statistical methodology was used in order to investigate the relationships among the variables of childhood abuse and neglect, parental attachment, childhood SES, childhood support, gender role endorsement, adolescent self-concept, adulthood coping style, attributional style, and aggression in adulthood. Measures used included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Parental Bonding Instrument, Crisis Support Scale, Bem Sex-Role Inventory - Short Form, a modified version of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale, Coping Response Inventory - Adult Form, an attributional style measure loosely based on the Attributional Style Questionnaire, and the Aggression Questionnaire. Participants were 241 adults from the general population of New Zealand who completed a mail-out survey sent to random residential addresses. Results included descriptive analyses for the sample's performance across the measures, including comparisons based on demographics; correlation analyses among the variables; and structural equation modelling analyses on the hypothesised model of aggression development. Overall, adulthood aggression was found to be the product of complex and multi-determined factors experienced throughout an individuals' lifespan. Interpretations of the results were considered with respect to the literature and clinical implications. Strengths and weaknesses of the research were discussed, as were suggestions for future research.