The Moderating Role of Affective Reactivity in the Relation Between Community Violence Exposure and Aggression Subtypes

Community violence exposure (CVE) is associated with youth emotion dysregulation (Schwartz & Proctor, 2000) and aggressive behavior, particularly among contextually disadvantaged children (Margolin & Gordis, 2000). Emotion dysregulation may manifest as affective reactivity (e.g., impulsivity, explosiveness), also placing children at risk for aggression (Kolko et al., 2007). Although contextually disadvantaged youth are at risk for proactive and reactive aggression, it is unclear whether emotion dysregulation and CVE are differentially associated with aggression subtypes. To address this gap, we examined whether affective reactivity moderates the relation between CVE and reactive and proactive aggression in low income, urban children.

Participants were 105 children (51% male; M=9.9±1.2 years old; 95% African-American; median income=$15,000) recruited from schools in contextually disadvantaged neighborhoods. Caregivers reported on their child’s aggressive behavior using the Parent-rating Scale for Reactive and Proactive Aggression (Kempes et al., 2006), and affect regulation using the Screen for Children’s Affective Reactivity (Kolko et al., 2007). Children reported on the frequency of CVE (experienced or witnessed) using the Community Experiences Questionnaire (Schwartz & Proctor, 2000).

Interactive effects of affective reactivity (i.e., explosiveness and impulsivity) and CVE on reactive and proactive aggression were examined using hierarchical linear regressions. After controlling for age, sex, and income, the explosiveness×witnessed (β=0.22, p<.01) and explosiveness×victimization (β=0.24, p<.01) interaction terms predicted proactive aggression. Post-hoc probing revealed that children high on explosiveness had higher levels of proactive aggression with elevated levels of victimization (B=1.58, p<.01) and witnessed violence (B=1.90, p<.01). Children low on explosiveness did not differ in levels of proactive aggression in the context of CVE. The impulsivity×witnessed and impulsivity×victimization interaction terms predicted proactive aggression (β=0.24, p<.01; β=0.17, p<.05). Post-hoc probing showed children high on impulsivity displayed higher levels of proactive aggression given high victimization (B=1.51, p<.01) and witnessed violence (B=2.50, p<.01). Levels of proactive aggression did not differ among children with low impulsivity, regardless of their levels of CVE. Affective reactivity×CVE did not predict reactive aggression.

Among low income, urban youth, greater affective reactivity is associated with proactive aggression in the face of community violence. Intervention efforts should address emotion regulation skills in situations that may evoke greater affective reactivity, particularly for youth in communities with high rates of violence.