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Perinatal factors, parenting behavior, and reactive aggression: does cortisol reactivity mediate this developmental risk process?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ryan, SR; Schechter, JC; Brennan, PA
Published in: J Abnorm Child Psychol
November 2012

Little is known about the mechanisms of action that link perinatal risk and the development of aggressive behavior. The aim of this study was to examine whether perinatal risk and parenting interacted to specifically predict reactive aggression, as opposed to general aggressive behavior, and to examine cortisol reactivity as a mediator of this developmental risk process. In a community sample of 99 elementary school-aged children, prenatal risk was measured by a count of minor physical anomalies (MPAs), reactive aggression was measured by laboratory observations of aggression in response to provocation, and general aggression was measured by parent report. Cortisol reactivity was not found to mediate the association between MPAs and reactive aggression or general aggression. However, MPAs were found to interact with parenting behaviors to predict reactive aggression and general aggression, as well as cortisol reactivity. Specifically, as the deficits in parenting increased, MPAs became more strongly and positively associated with reactive aggressive and general aggressive outcomes. Similarly, in cases of poor parenting behaviors, MPAs were positively associated with higher cortisol reactivity. Implications for theory and prevention are discussed.

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Published In

J Abnorm Child Psychol

DOI

EISSN

1573-2835

Publication Date

November 2012

Volume

40

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1211 / 1222

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Parenting
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Male
  • Interpersonal Relations
 

Citation

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Ryan, S. R., Schechter, J. C., & Brennan, P. A. (2012). Perinatal factors, parenting behavior, and reactive aggression: does cortisol reactivity mediate this developmental risk process? J Abnorm Child Psychol, 40(8), 1211–1222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-012-9649-0
Ryan, Stacy R., Julia C. Schechter, and Patricia A. Brennan. “Perinatal factors, parenting behavior, and reactive aggression: does cortisol reactivity mediate this developmental risk process?J Abnorm Child Psychol 40, no. 8 (November 2012): 1211–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-012-9649-0.
Ryan, Stacy R., et al. “Perinatal factors, parenting behavior, and reactive aggression: does cortisol reactivity mediate this developmental risk process?J Abnorm Child Psychol, vol. 40, no. 8, Nov. 2012, pp. 1211–22. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10802-012-9649-0.
Ryan SR, Schechter JC, Brennan PA. Perinatal factors, parenting behavior, and reactive aggression: does cortisol reactivity mediate this developmental risk process? J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2012 Nov;40(8):1211–1222.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Abnorm Child Psychol

DOI

EISSN

1573-2835

Publication Date

November 2012

Volume

40

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1211 / 1222

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Parenting
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Male
  • Interpersonal Relations