Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in:

20-06-2018 | Original Paper

Theory of Mind Deficits and Reactive Aggression in Child Psychiatric Inpatients: Indirect Effects Through Emotion Dysregulation

Auteurs: Kurt K. Stellwagen, Patricia K. Kerig

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 10/2018

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Nationwide, there is a pressing need to develop more efficacious treatment regimens for reactively aggressive youth receiving inpatient psychiatric services. Identifying the relevant clinical characteristics of youth with reactive aggression is an important first step in this process. Past research findings and theoretical formulations have suggested that deficits in both social skills and emotional regulation abilities are significantly associated with the development of reactive aggression in children. Utilizing a highly aggressive child inpatient sample (65 males and 36 females) receiving crisis-stabilization services, we tested the hypothesis that emotion dysregulation statistically mediated the relationship between theory of mind deficits and reactive aggression. As hypothesized, results of bootstrapped mediational analyses indicated that theory of mind deficits were associated with higher levels of reactive aggression via the indirect influence of dysregulated affect. These findings suggest that intervention programs for reactively aggressive children should promote both theory of mind skills and emotion regulation abilities. Children that develop more thoughtful styles of perspective taking coupled with an enhanced ability to modulate their emotions may develop a greater ability to employ the rational conflict resolution skills that underlie peaceful social relationships.
Literatuur
go back to reference Barker, E. D., Vitaro, F., Lacourse, E., Fontaine, N. M., Carbonneau, R., & Tremblay, R. E. (2010). Testing the developmental distinctiveness of male proactive and reactive aggression with a nested longitudinal experimental intervention. Aggressive Behavior, 36, 127–140. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.20337.CrossRefPubMed Barker, E. D., Vitaro, F., Lacourse, E., Fontaine, N. M., Carbonneau, R., & Tremblay, R. E. (2010). Testing the developmental distinctiveness of male proactive and reactive aggression with a nested longitudinal experimental intervention. Aggressive Behavior, 36, 127–140. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​ab.​20337.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Balkin, R. S. (2006). A reexamination of trends in acute care psychiatric hospitalization: Ethnicity, payment, and length of stay. Journal of Professional Counseling, 34, 49–59.CrossRef Balkin, R. S. (2006). A reexamination of trends in acute care psychiatric hospitalization: Ethnicity, payment, and length of stay. Journal of Professional Counseling, 34, 49–59.CrossRef
go back to reference Barzman, D. H., Brackenbury, L., Sonnier, L., Schnell, B., Cassedy, & Salisbury, S. A., et al. (2011). Brief Rating of Aggression by Children and Adolescents (BRACHA): Development of a tool for assessing risk of inpatients’ aggressive behavior. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 39, 170–179. Barzman, D. H., Brackenbury, L., Sonnier, L., Schnell, B., Cassedy, & Salisbury, S. A., et al. (2011). Brief Rating of Aggression by Children and Adolescents (BRACHA): Development of a tool for assessing risk of inpatients’ aggressive behavior. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 39, 170–179.
go back to reference Berkowitz, L. (1963). Anger and aggression: An essay on emotion. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag. Berkowitz, L. (1963). Anger and aggression: An essay on emotion. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag.
go back to reference Blader, J. C., Abikoff, H., Foley, C., & Koplewicz, H. S. (1994). Children’s behavioral adaptation early in psychiatric hospitalization. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 35, 709–721. https://doi.org/10.111/j.1469-7610.1994.tb01216.x.CrossRef Blader, J. C., Abikoff, H., Foley, C., & Koplewicz, H. S. (1994). Children’s behavioral adaptation early in psychiatric hospitalization. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 35, 709–721. https://​doi.​org/​10.​111/​j.​1469-7610.​1994.​tb01216.​x.​CrossRef
go back to reference Card, N. A., & Little, T. D. (2007). Differential relations of instrumental and reactive aggression with maladjustment: Does adaptivity depend on function? In P. H. Hawley, T. D. Little & P. C. Rodkin (Eds.), Aggression and adaptation: The bright side to bad behavior (pp. 107–134). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers. Card, N. A., & Little, T. D. (2007). Differential relations of instrumental and reactive aggression with maladjustment: Does adaptivity depend on function? In P. H. Hawley, T. D. Little & P. C. Rodkin (Eds.), Aggression and adaptation: The bright side to bad behavior (pp. 107–134). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
go back to reference Dodge, K. A. (2000). Conduct Disorder. In A. J. Sameroff, M. Lewis & S. M. Miller (Eds.), Handbook of developmental psychopathology: Second edition (pp. 447–463). New York, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.CrossRef Dodge, K. A. (2000). Conduct Disorder. In A. J. Sameroff, M. Lewis & S. M. Miller (Eds.), Handbook of developmental psychopathology: Second edition (pp. 447–463). New York, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.CrossRef
go back to reference Dollard, J., Doob, C. W., Miller, N. E., Mowrer, O. H., & Sears, R. R. (1939). Frustration and aggression. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.CrossRef Dollard, J., Doob, C. W., Miller, N. E., Mowrer, O. H., & Sears, R. R. (1939). Frustration and aggression. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Eisenberg, N., Fabes, R. A., Shepard, S. A., Murphy, B. C., Jones, S., & Guthrie, I. K. (1998). Contemporaneous and longitudinal prediction of children’s sympathy from dispositional regulation and emotionality. Developmental Psychology, 34, 910–924.https://doi.org/10.1037.0012-1649.34.5.910.CrossRefPubMed Eisenberg, N., Fabes, R. A., Shepard, S. A., Murphy, B. C., Jones, S., & Guthrie, I. K. (1998). Contemporaneous and longitudinal prediction of children’s sympathy from dispositional regulation and emotionality. Developmental Psychology, 34, 910–924.https://​doi.​org/​10.​1037.​0012-1649.​34.​5.​910.​CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Feindler, E. l. (2006). Anger-related disorders: A practitioner’s guide to comparative treatments. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company. Feindler, E. l. (2006). Anger-related disorders: A practitioner’s guide to comparative treatments. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
go back to reference Frick, P. J., Cornell, A. H., Barry, C. T., Bodin, S. D., & Dane, H. E. (2003). Callous-unemotional traits and conduct problems in the prediction of conduct problem severity, aggression, and self-report of delinquency. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31, 457–470. https://doi.org/10.1023/A: 1023899703866.CrossRefPubMed Frick, P. J., Cornell, A. H., Barry, C. T., Bodin, S. D., & Dane, H. E. (2003). Callous-unemotional traits and conduct problems in the prediction of conduct problem severity, aggression, and self-report of delinquency. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31, 457–470. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1023/​A: 1023899703866.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Frick, P. J., & Hare, R. D. (2001). The Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems. Frick, P. J., & Hare, R. D. (2001). The Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems.
go back to reference Glick, B., & Gibbs, J. C. (2010). Aggression replacement training: a comprehensive intervention for aggressive youth 3rd edn Champaign, IL: Research Press. Glick, B., & Gibbs, J. C. (2010). Aggression replacement training: a comprehensive intervention for aggressive youth 3rd edn Champaign, IL: Research Press.
go back to reference Happé, F. (1994). An advanced test of theory of mind: Understanding of story characters’ thoughts and feelings by able autistic, mentally handicapped, and normal children and adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 14, 385–389. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02172093.CrossRef Happé, F. (1994). An advanced test of theory of mind: Understanding of story characters’ thoughts and feelings by able autistic, mentally handicapped, and normal children and adults. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 14, 385–389. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​bf02172093.CrossRef
go back to reference Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Hayes, A. F. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
go back to reference Larson, J., & Lochman, J. E. (2010). Helping schoolchildren cope with anger: A cognitive-behavioral intervention. 2nd edn New York, NY: The Guilford Press. Larson, J., & Lochman, J. E. (2010). Helping schoolchildren cope with anger: A cognitive-behavioral intervention. 2nd edn New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
go back to reference Repacholi, B., Slaughter, V., Pritchard, M., & Gibbs, V. (2003). Theory of mind, Machiavellianism, and social functioning in childhood. In B. Repacholi & V. Slaughter (Eds.), Individual differences in theory of mind: Implications for typical and atypical development (pp. 67–97). New York., NY: Psychology Press. Repacholi, B., Slaughter, V., Pritchard, M., & Gibbs, V. (2003). Theory of mind, Machiavellianism, and social functioning in childhood. In B. Repacholi & V. Slaughter (Eds.), Individual differences in theory of mind: Implications for typical and atypical development (pp. 67–97). New York., NY: Psychology Press.
go back to reference Schwartz, D., Dodge, K. A., Coie, J. D., Hubbard, J. A., Cillessen, A. H., & Bateman, H. (1998). Social-cognitive and behavioral correlates of aggression and victimization in boy’s play groups. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26, 431–440. https://doi.org/10.1023/A: 1022695601088.CrossRefPubMed Schwartz, D., Dodge, K. A., Coie, J. D., Hubbard, J. A., Cillessen, A. H., & Bateman, H. (1998). Social-cognitive and behavioral correlates of aggression and victimization in boy’s play groups. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26, 431–440. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1023/​A: 1022695601088.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Shields, A. & Cicchetti, D. (1995). The development of an emotion regulation assessment battery: Reliability and validity among at-risk grade-school children. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development. Indianapolis, IN. Shields, A. & Cicchetti, D. (1995). The development of an emotion regulation assessment battery: Reliability and validity among at-risk grade-school children. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development. Indianapolis, IN.
go back to reference Skripkauskate, S., Hawk, S. T., Branje, S. J., Koot, H. M., van Lier, P. A., & Meeus, W. (2015). Reactive and proactive aggression: Differential links with emotion regulation difficulties, maternal criticism in adolescence. Aggressive Behavior, 41, 214–226. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21583.CrossRef Skripkauskate, S., Hawk, S. T., Branje, S. J., Koot, H. M., van Lier, P. A., & Meeus, W. (2015). Reactive and proactive aggression: Differential links with emotion regulation difficulties, maternal criticism in adolescence. Aggressive Behavior, 41, 214–226. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​ab.​21583.CrossRef
go back to reference Stegge, H., & Terwogt, M. M. (2007). Awareness and regulation of emotion in typical and atypical development. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 269–286). New York: Guilford Press. Stegge, H., & Terwogt, M. M. (2007). Awareness and regulation of emotion in typical and atypical development. In J. J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 269–286). New York: Guilford Press.
go back to reference Vitaro, F., & Brendgen, M. (2005). Proactive and reactive aggression: A developmental perspective. In R. E. Tremblay, W. M. Hartup & J. Archer (Eds.), Developmental origins of aggression (pp. 377–385). NY: Guilford Press. Vitaro, F., & Brendgen, M. (2005). Proactive and reactive aggression: A developmental perspective. In R. E. Tremblay, W. M. Hartup & J. Archer (Eds.), Developmental origins of aggression (pp. 377–385). NY: Guilford Press.
go back to reference Wynam, P. A., Cross, W., Hendricks Brown, C., Yu, Q., Tu, Q., & Eberly, S. (2010). Intervention to strengthen emotional self-regulation in children with emerging mental health problems: Proximal impact on school behavior. The Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38, 707–720. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-0109398x.CrossRef Wynam, P. A., Cross, W., Hendricks Brown, C., Yu, Q., Tu, Q., & Eberly, S. (2010). Intervention to strengthen emotional self-regulation in children with emerging mental health problems: Proximal impact on school behavior. The Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38, 707–720. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10802-0109398x.CrossRef
Metagegevens
Titel
Theory of Mind Deficits and Reactive Aggression in Child Psychiatric Inpatients: Indirect Effects Through Emotion Dysregulation
Auteurs
Kurt K. Stellwagen
Patricia K. Kerig
Publicatiedatum
20-06-2018
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 10/2018
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1161-x