Am J Psychiatry 1983; 140:31-35
Copyright © 1983 by American Psychiatric Association
Predictors of assaultiveness in latency age children
CR Pfeffer, R Plutchik and MS Mizruchi
The authors evaluated the presence of assaultive behavior in 103 children,
aged 6-12 years, seen in the psychiatric inpatient and outpatient services
of a municipal hospital. No racial or ethnic differences were found. Boys
were significantly more assaultive than girls and used fire setting and
hitting with objects more often. Inpatients were significantly more
assaultive than outpatients. Children with conduct disorders, specific
developmental disorders, and mental retardation were more assaultive than
those with neurotic disorders. Multiple regression analysis showed that the
child's past aggressive behavior, absence of anxiety and depression, and
parental assaultive behavior were the best predictors of assaultive
behavior.
