The role of cortisol and psychopathic traits in aggression among at‐risk girls: Tests of mediating hypotheses

Abstract

Multiple etiological factors (e.g., biological and personality predispositions) have been linked to the development of aggression. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation between proactive/reactive aggression and biological (HPA-axis functioning) and personality characteristics (subdimensions of psychopathy) among girls at risk for aggressive behavior. Participants included girls (N = 158) admitted for acute psychiatric inpatient treatment (M age = 9.72; SD = 1.99). Parents completed a measure of proactive/reactive aggression and psychopathy upon admission. Fasting plasma cortisol levels were obtained the morning following the child's admission. Correlational analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between cortisol and the narcissism and impulsivity subdimensions of psychopathy as well as proactive/reactive aggression. A significant positive relation between proactive and reactive aggression and the three subdimensions of psychopathy was also observed. Path analyses revealed that only narcissism was uniquely and positively related to proactive and reactive aggression. Tests of indirect effects from cortisol to aggression through subdimensions of psychopathy indicated significant pathways via narcissism to proactive and reactive aggression. The findings support previous research linking narcissism uniquely to aggression for girls and suggest that the relation between cortisol and proactive/reactive aggression is mediated by narcissism.

Research Review: What do we know about psychopathic traits in children?

“…() found that boys with elevated psychopathic traits showed greater levels of coupling between testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA, whereas boys with elevated CU traits alone showed greater levels of uncoupling of the three hormones. In another study, Stoppelbein, Greening, Luebbe, Fite, and Becker () found a significant negative correlation between cortisol and GM and DI traits in girls. Tests of indirect effects showed a pathway from cortisol to aggression via GM traits to proactive and reactive aggression.…”

Pathways from child maltreatment to proactive and reactive aggression: The role of posttraumatic stress symptom clusters.

“…For example, early stressful experiences have been shown to negatively impact a child’s ability to regulate and express their emotions effectively, which has also been implicated as a potential etiological factor in childhood aggression (Card & Little, 2006; Erwin et al, 2000). Consequences of ACEs and the presence of aggressive behaviors are associated with similar changes in the neuroendocrine and immune systems (e.g., Metzler et al, 2017); and these perturbations in neuroendocrine functioning often overlap with the processes implicated in the predisposition for high levels of aggression, especially among children (e.g., Stoppelbein et al, 2014). Similarly, both aggression and trauma experiences have been found to show similar changes in brain development/structure in areas responsible for executive function (e.g., emotional and behavioral regulation, attention, etc.…”

Cold-Blooded and on Purpose: A Review of the Biology of Proactive Aggression

“…PA has been found to be similarly unrelated to salivary cortisol in depressed and anxious children [ 68 ]. While negative correlational findings between PA and plasma cortisol have been reported among females with a history of psychiatric hospitalization, PA and RA scores were highly correlated [ 70 ]. Furthermore, quantification of plasma cortisol can be inherently challenging, as the sampling process itself can be anxiety- and stress-inducing.…”