Pathways to trait-aggression - the role of childhood emotional maltreatment, hostile attribution bias and emotion regulation: a systematic review and empirical study.
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Date
03/07/2015Author
Cowie, Joëlle
Metadata
Abstract
Background: The long-term detrimental impact of childhood emotional
maltreatment is being increasingly recognised in the empirical literature. Adulthood
trait-aggression is one proposed outcome of childhood emotional maltreatment.
However, the pathways by which emotional maltreatment leads to trait-aggression
are not well understood.
Method: A systematic review was conducted to appraise the current empirical
evidence base regarding the relationship between childhood emotional maltreatment
and adulthood trait-aggression. Eighteen studies were reviewed and their quality
analysed based on a number of pre-defined criteria.
An empirical study was conducted using a cross-sectional, survey based design to
evaluate hostile attribution bias and emotion regulation difficulties as mediators
between childhood emotional maltreatment and adulthood trait-aggression.
Participants were men (N = 42) recruited from NHS Forensic Mental Health
Services.
Results: Results from the systematic review provided support for a positive and
significant association between childhood emotional abuse and adulthood traitaggression.
There was evidence to indicate that childhood emotional neglect was also
positively associated with adulthood trait-aggression, however, only a small number
of studies have examined this relationship.
The empirical study found significant indirect effects of childhood emotional abuse
on self-reported aggression through emotion regulation difficulties. Emotion
regulation difficulties did not have a significant effect on the relationship between
childhood emotional neglect and aggression. Hostile attribution bias was not found to
significantly mediate the relationship between either emotional abuse and aggression
or emotional neglect and aggression.
Conclusion: Those who experience emotional maltreatment during childhood may
be at increased likelihood of engaging in aggressive behaviour in adulthood. Emotion
regulation difficulties may play a key role in the relationship between childhood
emotional abuse and aggression and this should be taken into consideration when
assessing and treating adults who have difficulties with aggression. The routes by
which emotional neglect and emotional abuse lead to aggression may differ. Further
research is required to better understand the processes which lead from emotional
maltreatment to aggression, particularly with regards to emotional neglect.