Angry and aggressive behavior across three generations: A prospective, longitudinal study of parents and children

Rand D. Conger, Tricia Neppl, Kee Jeong Kim, Laura Scaramella

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

219 Scopus citations

Abstract

This investigation examined intergenerational continuities in both angry, aggressive parenting and also the angry, aggressive behavior of children and adolescents. Data from 75 G2 youth (26 men, 49 women, M = 22-years old), their mothers (G1), and their G3 children (47 boys, 28 girls, M = 2.4-years old) were included in the analyses. The prospective, longitudinal design of the study, which included observational and multiinformant measures, overcame many of the methodological limitations found in much of the earlier research on intergenerational transmission. The results demonstrated a direct connection between observed G1 aggressive parenting and observed G2 aggressive parenting from 5 to 7 years later. G2 aggressive behavior as an adolescent and G3 aggressive behavior as a child were related to parenting behavior but not directly to one another. The results were consistent with a social leaming perspective on intergenerational continuities in angry and aggressive behaviors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)143-160
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aggression
  • Anger
  • Intergenerational continuities
  • Parenting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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