PREDICTORS OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY IN SENIOR DAY-CARE-CENTERS

Aggressive behaviors place elderly persons and their caregivers at ris k. This study examines longitudinally the predictors of aggressive beh aviors based on staff and family members' ratings of 200 community-dwe lling participants from senior day care centers. The main difference b etween physically and verbally aggressive behaviors was found to be th e role of physical and mental health. Cognitive impairment and poor qu ality of relationship were the main predictors of physically aggressiv e behaviors. Verbally aggressive behaviors were predicted mainly by de pressed affect, low quality of relationships, and poor physical health . These results validate and expand prior cross sectional research on the correlates of aggression ill other populations, and guide in the d evelopment of interventions.