Evaluating the Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Neglect, Interpersonal Hostile-Dominance, and Aggression in Psychiatric Hospitals

Abstract

This study examined whether interpersonal hostile-dominance (HD) mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and aggression in 200 psychiatric inpatients (M age = 38.32 years, 66% male). Childhood emotional (50.5%), physical (42.0%), and sexual (42.0%) abuse, and emotional (46.5%) and physical (41.0%) neglect of moderate to extreme severity was reported. More severe emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and physical neglect in childhood were associated with higher HD. Higher levels of HD and all forms of childhood abuse and neglect were associated with aggression; HD mediated the relationship between childhood emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect and aggression. Findings highlight the high prevalence of childhood trauma in adult psychiatric inpatients. Further, childhood trauma contributes to HD, which increases the risk of aggression.

KEYWORDS:

• aggression
• childhood trauma
• hostile-dominance
• inpatient psychiatry
• interpersonal style
• interpersonal theory
• prevalence rates
• trauma-informed care