NCJ Number
111718
Journal
Child Psychiatry and Human Development Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1987) Pages: 166-175
Date Published
1987
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A total of 101 randomly selected preadolescent school children not attending classes for emotionally disturbed or neurologically handicapped students were studied to determine the severity of their assaultive behavior and the psychosocial variables associated with such behavior.
Abstract
The research instruments were a Spectrum of Suicidal Behavior Scale, a Spectrum of Assaultive Behavior Scale, a Precipitating Events Scale, General Psychopathology Scales, a Child Concept of Death Scale, a Family Background Scale, an Ego Mechanism Scale, and an Ego Defense Scale. A correlation matrix was computed relating the ratings on the Child's Assaultive Spectrum Scale to scores on all other variables. Analyses of variance were computed for the child's assaultive spectrum ratings ratings in relation to such categorical factors as sex, race/ethnicity, religion, social status, and diagnosis. Of the sample, 39.6 percent were not assaultive, 27.7 percent contemplated assault, and 32.7 percent made assaultive threats and attempts. The child's degree of assaultiveness was significantly associated with past aggression, past general psychopathology, ego defenses of projection and compensation, and mother's degree of assaultiveness. Impulse control had the highest negative association with the child's assaultiveness rating. 19 references.