Reactively and proactively aggressive children: antecedent and subsequent characteristics

TLDR

The study compared reactive and proactive aggression in 10‑12‑year‑old children to determine whether the two subtypes differ in antecedent and subsequent outcomes. Using a large community sample, teachers rated reactive and proactive aggression at ages 10, 11, and 12, while antecedent temperament and behavioral dispositions were assessed at age 6 and delinquency and depressive symptoms at age 13. Results showed that reactive and proactive children had distinct antecedent and subsequent profiles, confirming that the two aggression forms are separate yet frequently co‑occur in aggressive youth.

Abstract

Background: Reactive and proactive subtypes of aggressive 10–11–12‐year‐old children were compared with non‐aggressive children to examine whether the two forms of aggression were differentially related to antecedent and subsequent measures. Method: A large community sample of boys and girls was used. Reactive and proactive aggression was measured through teacher ratings when the children were 10, 11 and 12 years old. Antecedent measures were age 6 temperament and behavioral dispositions; subsequent measures were age 13 delinquency and depressive symptoms. Results: Results indicated that reactive and proactive children had distinctive profiles on antecedent and subsequent measures. Conclusions: We conclude that children characterized by reactive or proactive aggression differ on several dimensions of personal functioning, and that reactive and proactive aggression are distinct forms of aggression, although both co‐occur in a large proportion of aggressive children.