Building Theory on Adolescent Aggression toward Parents: Do Neuropsychological Factors and Symptom Patterns Matter?
Open Access
Author:
Nagashima, Christina Kayte
Graduate Program:
Psychology
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
July 15, 2008
Committee Members:
Sandra T Azar, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Keywords:
family violence adolescent aggression
Abstract:
The present study explored factors that may lead an adolescent to aggress toward their
parents in a sample of at-risk teenagers. This extended previous research by exploring
whether an adolescents’ neuropsychological functioning and symptom patterns, in
combination with the quality of their parent-child relationship, predicted this type of
aggression. Specifically, models focused on depressive and aggressive symptoms and
were examined by gender. Mixed support was found for interpersonal risk predictors;
clear differences in predictors emerged for boys and girls. Depressive symptoms were not
found to be a significant predictor for either boys or girls. Some neuropsychological
factors and aggressive symptoms were found to be a significant predictor for girls only.
Clinical, developmental, and theoretical implications for girls and their aggression are
reviewed.
