Aggression, Suicidality, and Emotion Profiles in Youth: Links to Early Life Adversity

Abstract

Suicidality and physical aggression are leading, related youth public health concerns. Yet, whether adolescents who harm themselves, others, or both differ emotionally and etiologically remains unclear. To address this, adolescents from a prospective population-based birth cohort reported their suicidality, physical aggression, depression/anxiety symptoms, anger, and callousness (N = 1637). Distinct latent harm-emotion profiles were identified, which were linked to perinatal and childhood experiences. A six-profile solution was retained: Low harm (79.5%), moderate suicidality (6.5%), high suicidality (2%), high aggression (2.5%), moderate aggression (8.5%), and high suicidality and aggression (dual harm; 1%). Elevated harm profiles were compared to the low-harm group. Moderate/high suicidality profiles showed slight elevations in physical aggression. All elevated harm profiles expressed higher negative emotionality. Dual harm and aggression groups reported higher callousness, while suicidality groups reported lower callousness. Aggression profiles were 75% male, suicidality profiles were 21% male, while the low and dual-harm profiles were more similarly mixed sex (47% vs. 63% male, respectively). Low-harm youth experienced more positive childhood parenting. The dual harm and high aggression groups had more deviant childhood best friends, while the dual harm and moderate aggression groups had lower early life household income. The moderate suicidality group had fathers with higher depressive symptoms during infancy and childhood. Thus, one in five youth showed relatively elevated suicidality and/or physical aggression; of which, 95% tended to have a primary target (themselves or others). Early life economic, parental, and peer support may be key for preventing suicidal and aggressive outcomes in adolescence.