Daycare center attendance buffers the effects of maternal authoritarian parenting style on physical aggression in children

A maternal authoritarian style has been related to the development of physical aggression during childhood and later future social problems; however, not too many studies have detected other than individual or family factors that may buffer this maternal effect. This work examines whether daycare center attendance may moderate the relationships between a mother authoritarian style and physical aggression. The study sample was 72 (40 girls) kindergarten children from Spain. Parents were asked to complete two questionnaires focused on individual family characteristics and parenting styles. At age 5, children physical aggression was assessed by direct observation at playtime; aggression scores at 6 was obtained by a peer-rated questionnaire. A least squared multiple regression was performed after controlling for children’s level of physical aggression at 5, child sex and siblings. A positive contribution of maternal authoritarian style on physical aggression was detected. Daycare center attendance appears to attenuate the effect of the mother’s authoritarian style on physical aggression, only in boys.This study was funded by the Andalusian Regional Government’s Plan Andaluz de Investigación (PAI-2003/04, HUM-554) and by the Basque Country Government (GIC07/19-IT-238-07)

Parental Corporal Punishment and Peer Victimization in Middle Childhood: A Sex-Moderated Mediation Model of Aggression

There is a peak in peer victimization during middle childhood, with multiple negative consequences. Parental use of corporal punishment and child aggression are the most widely studied predictors of this phenomenon. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether parental use of corporal punishment affects peer victimization through child aggression. This mediation model was explored for both mothers and fathers and for both physical and relational forms of aggression and peer victimization. Furthermore, we also analyzed whether the mediation models were moderated by the sex of the child. Participants were 234 third graders (46% girls). Child aggression and victimization were measured by peers using the Mini Direct Indirect Aggression Inventory. Independent measures of mother's and father's use of corporal punishment were obtained from a PCA of items from the Parental Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ). Conditional process modeling was carried out using a macro for SPSS developed by Hayes (2013). Results indicated that aggression mediated the relation of parental corporal punishment to peer victimization. Some interesting moderating effects of sex in this mediation model were found; specifically, physical, and relational aggression mediated the relation of maternal corporal punishment to peer victimization only in boys. Few studies to date have addressed the connection between aggressive behavior and peer victimization as outcomes of corporal punishment, taking into consideration the role of parent's and child's sex, and both physical and relational forms of aggression and victimization during childhood

Fathering and children's relational aggression: Moderating effects of children's temperament and gender

In this exploratory study, we analyzed the contribution of fathering to relational aggression (RA) in middle childhood and the moderating role of children's temperament and gender. Participants (N = 234; 46% girls) were attending public elementary school (mean age = 8.15; SD = 1.23) in middle‐class neighborhoods in two Spanish cities. Fathers provided information about their parenting practices using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire, parents gave data on their child's temperament using the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire and children provided information about their peers’ aggressive behavior using the Mini Direct Indirect Aggression Inventory. Fathering dimensions considered were Authoritative Cold, Authoritative Warm, Physical Punishment, and Insecurity; temperament dimensions considered were negative affect (NA), effortful control (EC), activity (AC), and shyness (SH). Gender, fathering, and temperament dimensions additively accounted for a significant proportion of the variance observed in RA. Several significant interactions suggested that the effect of fathering on RA was moderated by temperament and, in some cases, by children's gender. NA increased the potential risk of Authoritative Cold fathering (CF) and, in boys only, of Insecure fathering, while EC potentiated the protective effect of Authoritative‐Warm fathering and, in boys only, buffered the risk effect of CF. SH buffered the risk effect of CF and decreased the protective effect of AuthoritativeWarm fathering on RA. Lastly, AC also buffered the risk effect of CF on RA. Results are discussed in light of the protective or the vulnerability role of temperament and in relation to models that explain sensitivity differences to environmental contexts

Parenting styles and hormone levels as predictors of physical and indirect aggression in boys and girls

This study examines the relationship between parenting style, androgen levels, and measures of physical and indirect aggression. Peer ratings of aggression were obtained from 159 eight-year-old children (89 boys and 70 girls). Parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian or permissive) were assessed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ).Saliva samples were obtained from children and assayed for testosterone and androstenedione concentrations. A regression analysis revealed that high testosterone levels were associated with a higher level of physical aggression in boys with authoritarian mothers. Testosterone was also found to moderate the relationship between father's authoritarian parenting and physical aggression in girls, with both moderate and high levels being significant. In relation to indirect aggression, moderate and high levels of testosterone were associated with higher levels of this type of aggression in girls with permissive mothers. Our results highlight the importance of taking into account the interaction of biological and psychosocial variables when investigating aggressive behavior. Aggr. Behav. 40:465-473, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer Reviewe

Empathy, estradiol and androgen levels in 9-year-old children

The aim of this study was to analyze the possible relationship between circulating hormone levels (tes- tosterone, androstenedione and estradiol) and empathy, as well as to identify any possible gender differ- ences in this relationship. The subjects were 123 9-year-old Caucasian children (57 boys and 66 girls). Bryant’s Empathy Index was used to measure empathy. Hormone levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay technique in saliva samples. The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed the existence of interaction effects of estradiol-gender and testosterone-gender on empathy. Girls with low testosterone levels scored higher in Cognitive Empathy than girls with high testosterone levels. Boys with low estradiol levels scored higher in Affective Empathy than boys with high levels of this hormone. The results obtained open up new and interesting avenues of future research into the relationship between hormones and empathy in childrenPeer reviewe

Androgen levels and anger and impulsivity measures as predictors of physical, verbal and indirect aggression in boys and girls

Previous studies indicate that androgen levels and certain psychological character- istics such as anger and impulsivity are related to the development and maintenance of aggression. Further studies are required to analyze the potential predictor role of the interaction of said factors on aggressive behavior. 90 nine-year-old children (44 boys and 46 girls) were assessed in relation to their levels of physical, verbal and indirect aggression, using a peer-rating technique. Testosterone and androstenedione levels were analyzed using an enzymoimmunoas- say technique in saliva samples. Anger (state and trait) and anger control were measured using the STAXI-NA, and impulsivity was measured through the MFF-20. A General Linear Model revealed that sex was the best predictor for aggression measures, with boys scoring higher than girls in physical, verbal and indirect aggression; after sex, testosterone was found to be the best predictor (in a positive sense) of all three types of aggressive behavior studied. In addition to observing a main effect of androstenedione on physical and verbal aggression, a ‘state anger * - androstenedione’ interaction was found to predict these types of aggression, with androstene- dione acting as a moderator (inhibitor) of the effects of anger on these behaviors; also, a ‘state anger * testosterone’ interaction was found to predict verbal aggression. The results support the idea that, after sex, androgens constitute a biological marker to be taken into consideration inPeer reviewe

Do aggression and withdrawal act as links between early peer rejection by same-sex peeers and later risk behaviors? A longitudinal study across 5 - 9 year old period , considering sex differences

Considering the relevance of peer relationships in childhood development, a large body of longitudinal studies has established the predictive contribution of aggression and peer rejection to later dysfunction. However, few researchers have considered rejection by same-sex peers while describing the mechanism through which behavior and early peer experiences may result in future psychological maladjustment, including aggression. Nevertheless, sex segregation during childhood has been referred to as one of the most persistent and reliable developmental phenomena. We test two separate models establishing that, regardless of the previous level of aggression at age 5, peer rejection by conflicts and that these maladaptive behaviors will develop into subsequent aggressive behaviors. Three types of aggression (physical, verbal and indirect) and withdrawal behavior in social conflicts were tested as mediators in the association between rejection by same-sex peers at kindergarten, and later aggression and behavioral problems at age 9. The participants were 48 boys and 59 girls from ages 5 to 9, in eight classrooms in three Spanish state schools. Rejection by same-sex peers was calculated from individual sociometric data collected at the end of kindergarten. At age 7, the Peer Estimated Conflict Behavior Inventory (PECOBE) was used to measure negative responses to social conflicts. Lastly, at age 9, behavioral problems and aggressive behavior were assessed using the parents’ rating and a peer rating measurement instrument, respectively. Also, in order to control the previous aggression level at age 5, an observational measure was obtained for each participant. For both girls and boys, and after controlling the previous level of aggression at age 5, rejection by same-sex peers predicted aggressive behavior at age 9, whereas among boys only, rejection by same-sex peers also contributed to behavioral problems at age 9. Further, support was found for the proposed mediating processes. Indirect aggression, as a response to social conflicts, helped to account for the link between early rejection by same-sex peers and later aggressive behavior in girls. For boys, rejection by same-sex peers increased the likelihood of aggressive behavior (physical and indirect) in social conflicts, and these behaviors in turn contributed to both aggression and behavioral problems at age 9. Findings which enhance our understanding of the mechanisms that lead to risk behavior in girls and boys have the potential to inform gender-specific interventions aimed at preventing future problems.Peer reviewe

Aggression and prosocial behaviors in social conflicts mediating the influence of cold social intelligence and affective empathy on children's social preference

This study proposes a model in which aggressive and prosocial behaviors exhibited in social conflicts mediate the influence of empathy and social intelligence to children's social preference by same-sex peers. Data were obtained from kindergarten to the end of the first grade. The sample yielded 117 Spanish children (64 girls and 53 boys) with a mean age of 62.8 months (SD = 3.3) at the beginning of the study. For boys, affective empathy contributed to boys' social preference through a decrease in physical aggression as responses to social conflict. For girls, affective empathy had an indirect effect on girls' preference by increasing assistance to others in their conflicts. No mediating effect in the contribution of social intelligence on girls' social preference was detected. Our results suggest that, only for girls, cold social intelligence can promote both indirect aggression (coercive strategic that do not leave social preference, at least at these ages) and behaviors that lead social preference (such as prosocial behaviors). © 2014 Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Peer Reviewe