Physical Aggression During Early Childhood: Trajectories and Predictors

TLDR

Physical aggression in children is a major public health problem that emerges by 17 months, is linked to future health and social issues for both victims and perpetrators, and often results in serious injuries to the aggressors. The study aimed to identify trajectories of early childhood physical aggression and their antecedents to better understand developmental origins of later violence and inform preventive interventions.

Abstract

Physical aggression in children is a major public health problem. Not only is childhood physical aggression a precursor of the physical and mental health problems that will be visited on victims, but also aggressive children themselves are at higher risk of alcohol and drug abuse, accidents, violent crimes, depression, suicide attempts, spouse abuse, and neglectful and abusive parenting. Furthermore, violence commonly results in serious injuries to the perpetrators themselves. Although it is unusual for young children to harm seriously the targets of their physical aggression, studies of physical aggression during infancy indicate that by 17 months of age, the large majority of children are physically aggressive toward siblings, peers, and adults. This study aimed, first, to identify the trajectories of physical aggression during early childhood and, second, to identify antecedents of high levels of physical aggression early in life. Such antecedents could help to understand better the developmental origins of violence later in life and to identify targets for preventive interventions.