Proactive aggression in early school-aged children with externalizing behavior problems: A longitudinal study on the influence of empathy in response to distress.

Abstract

The course of proactive aggressive behavior may be affected by empathy in response to sadness and distress of others. The aim of the current study is to examine empathy in response to sadness and distress and its relation to proactive and reactive aggression in a clinical sample of children with externalizing behavior problems. At baseline (T1) and 12 months later (T2), parents and teachers of 104 six- and seven-year-old children completed the Instrument for Reactive and Proactive Aggression. At T1, parents and teachers also reported empathy in response to sadness and distress on the Griffith Empathy Measure. Findings show that low levels of parent-reported empathy at baseline were specifically associated with high parent-reported proactive aggression but not with reactive aggression. Similarly, low teacher-reported empathy was specifically related to high teacher-reported proactive aggression. Furthermore, high parent-reported but not teacher-reported empathy at baseline was associated with low proactive aggression at 12 months after controlling for proactive aggression at baseline. The conclusions support the notion that in the study of the course of aggression in clinical groups, the distinction between proactive and reactive aggression as well as the study of empathy in response to distress is relevant for a better understanding and might be taken into account in the development of future interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record

Bidirectional associations between affective empathy and proactive and reactive aggression

“…Conversely, Pouw et al (2013) found a negative association between affective empathy and reactive aggression in typically developing youth, but a positive association between reactive aggression and affective empathy in youth with autism spectrum disorder (mean age 11.6 years). In contrast, a longitudinal study of 6‐ to 7‐year‐old children found a null relationship between affective empathy and reactive aggression (Deschamps et al, 2018).…”

“…Indeed, previous cross‐sectional research in youth aged 11–18 consistently demonstrates that affective empathy and proactive aggression are negatively associated (e.g., Espelage, Mebane, & Adams, 2004; Euler et al, 2017). Furthermore, longitudinal studies have shown that low levels of affective empathy predict higher levels of proactive aggression in children aged 2–11 years (Deschamps, Verhulp, de Castro, & Matthys, 2018; Ostrov et al, 2013; Stavrinides et al, 2010).…”

“…Therefore, experiencing high levels of affective empathy may contribute to emotional overarousal and negative valence, which results in a greater likelihood that youth will engage in reactive aggression (likely towards another third party). Research on associations between affective empathy and reactive aggression is mixed and may vary based on the age and characteristics (e.g., emotion regulation skills) of the sample (Deschamps et al, 2018; Euler et al, 2017; Pouw, Rieffe, Oosterveld, Huskens, & Stockmann, 2013). Euler et al (2017) found that affective empathy was not associated with reactive aggression in a sample of highly aggressive adolescents (mean age 15.6 years).…”

“…The need to consider potential gender differences in the association between affective empathy and aggression has recently been highlighted (Deschamps et al, 2018; Euler et al, 2017). Previous studies have shown girls exhibit higher levels of affective empathy than boys (ages 4–16 years; Dadds et al, 2008; Euler et al, 2017; Jolliffe & Farrington, 2006; Stavrinides et al, 2010), and boys exhibit higher levels of proactive and reactive aggression than girls (ages 9–14 years; Mayberry & Espelage, 2007; Rieffe et al, 2016; Salmivalli & Nieminen, 2002).…”

“…It is also possible that boys who exhibit higher levels of reactive aggression are more likely to develop universal negative perceptions of peers and show decreases in affective empathy over time. However, gender differences in the links between empathy and specific functions of aggression have been understudied to date due to sample size and power limitations (Deschamps et al, 2018; Ostrov et al, 2013). While one cross‐sectional study was identified, it found that the gender distribution did not differ between clusters of adolescents with elevated reactive and/or proactive aggression (mean age 15.6 years; Euler et al, 2017).…”