Influence of punishment, emotional rejection, child abuse, and broken homeon aggression in adolescence: An examination of aggressive adolescents in Germany

The results of this study provide evidence for the importance of psychosoci al risks in childhood for aggressive behavior in adolescence. This study de monstrated that aggressive adolescents differed from a nonaggressive contro l group in an increased exposure to prior psychotraumatic events, such as s exual abuse (tendency), physical abuse, and broken homes. However, in predi cting later aggressive behavior, long-term and chronically effective negati ve living conditions seem of greater importance. Parenting behavior which i ncludes harsh punishment and emotional rejection as well as separation of t he parents early in life are particularly important factors. Whereas aggres sive girls do not differ from the nonaggressive control group in terms of s elf-reported mental health, the aggressive boys reported more attention def icits, depression, anxiety, delinquency, and social problems. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.