How do emotional abuse and emotional neglect differ in their influences on aggression in Chinese adolescents? The longitudinal mediation of relative deprivation

Background

The impact of maltreatment on adolescent aggression is well recognized, however, calculating total scores for different types of maltreatment may obscure the unique role of these types. Few studies have emphasized the impact of emotional maltreatment on adolescent aggression, and even fewer have focused on the differences between subtypes of emotional maltreatment (emotional abuse and emotional neglect). As aggression has multiple dimensions, examining only overall aggression may limit our understanding.

Objectives

This study constructed two models to investigate the impact of emotional abuse and emotional neglect on aggression and its sub-dimensions in adolescents. The longitudinal mediation of relative deprivation was examined.

Methods and Participants

Data from 1244 adolescents (M = 14.00, SD = 1.48, 49.8 % males) in two middle schools were collected via a longitudinal survey. Participants completed measurements of emotional abuse, emotional neglect, relative deprivation, and aggression at three time points.

Results

After controlling for age, gender, relative deprivation and aggression at T1, the results showed that emotional abuse T1 directly predicted aggression T3 and its sub-dimensions (physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, hostility, self-aggression), and indirectly predicted aggression T3 and its sub-dimensions through relative deprivation T2. Emotional neglect T1 can’t influence aggression T3 and its sub-dimensions (except for self-aggression).

Conclusions

Emotional abuse has long-term effects on adolescents’ aggression. Relative deprivation is a potential mechanism between emotional abuse and aggression. Emotional abuse had a broader impact on aggression than emotional neglect, while emotional neglect primarily induces self-aggression.