Relational Aggression in Children With Preschool-Onset Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Objective The role of preschool onset (PO) psychiatric disorders as correlates and/or risk factors for relational aggression during kindergarten or 1st grade was tested in a sample of N = 146 preschool-age children (3 to 5.11). Method Axis-I diagnoses and symptom scores were derived using the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. Children’s roles in relational aggression as aggressor, victim, aggressive-victim, or non-aggressor/non-victim were determined at preschool and again 24 months later at elementary school entry. Results Preschoolers diagnosed with PO-psychiatric disorders were 3 times as likely as the healthy preschoolers to be classified aggressors, victims, or aggressive-victims. Children diagnosed with PO-disruptive, depressive, and/or anxiety disorders were at least 6 times as likely as children without PO-psychiatric disorders to become aggressive-victims during elementary school after covarying for other key risk factors. Conclusions Findings suggested that PO-psychiatric disorders differentiated preschool and school-age children’s roles in relational aggression based on teacher-report. Recommendations for future research and preventative intervention aimed at minimizing the development of relational aggression in early childhood by identifying and targeting PO-psychiatric disorders are made.

Preschool predictors of childhood anxiety disorders: a prospective community study

“…Peer victimization and anxiety correlate (Hawker & Boulton, ). Our results are in accordance with research showing that bullying takes place in preschool (Vlachou, Andreou, Botsoglou, & Didaskalou, ) and that preschool psychiatric disorders and victimization co‐occur (Belden et al., ), but advances understanding by showing that bullying increased the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Children who are anxious, inhibited and lacking in social competence, particularly assertiveness, are less likely to competently tackle bullying attempts, and may thereby by more likely to be victimized (Olweus, ).…”

“…One recent study has also linked victimization with psychiatric disorders among preschoolers and preschool anxiety disorder with bully/victimization in first grade (Belden, Gaffrey, & Luby, 2012). However, whether bullying in the preschool years increases the risk of anxiety disorders remains undetermined, a lacuna we plan to address.…”

“…Although mostly studied in school‐aged children, peer victimization does occur during the preschool years (Barker et al., ) and has been implicated in the etiology of anxiety, at least in adolescence (Siegel, La Greca, & Harrison, ). One recent study has also linked victimization with psychiatric disorders among preschoolers and preschool anxiety disorder with bully/victimization in first grade (Belden, Gaffrey, & Luby, ). However, whether bullying in the preschool years increases the risk of anxiety disorders remains undetermined, a lacuna we plan to address.…”

Depression and Anxiety in Preschoolers

“…For instance, children diagnosed with preschool-onset depression and/or anxiety disorders were no more likely than healthy preschoolers to be involved in relational aggression as an aggressor or victim at preschool or school-age 66 . However, children with a preschool-onset depression and/or anxiety diagnosis were more than six times as likely to be classified as aggressive-victims at school-age, when compared to healthy preschoolers.…”

Mental health among left-behind preschool-aged children: Preliminary survey of its status and associated risk factors in rural China

“…25 Research has highlighted the importance of mental health in this period for affecting later academic, social and psychological outcomes. [26][27][28][29] Although findings have shed some light on the potential consequences of being left behind that very young children might encounter (such as higher rates of emotional and behavioural problems, especially among those separated from both parents 30 ), there is still an urgent need to assess more extensively the mental health of left-behind preschool-aged children (LBPC) and associated risk factors.…”