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Predictors of Physical Aggression in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Abstract

The present investigation examined factors that predict physical aggression in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stepwise, multiple regression-analyses were used to examine predictors of children's physical aggression as rated by parents at a 1-year follow-up point and by teachers at both 1- and 2-year follow-up points. Early parent and teacher ratings of verbal aggression (ie, cursing, teasing, and threatening) accounted for the greatest proportion of the variance in physical aggression ratings obtained at follow-up. None of the other predictor variable, including early ratings of physical aggression and ADHD behaviors, contributed significant additional variance beyond that accounted for by early verbal aggression ratings. Temporal and cross-informant analyses revealed that the relationship between verbal aggression and later physical aggression was situation-specific for teacher ratings but no parent ratings. Although physical aggression may emerge early in development, these data suggest that verbal aggre sion represents a stable, temperamental characteristic that may be of greater value than early physical aggression for predicting later physically aggressive acts.

Type
Feature Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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