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Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Antisocial Behavior: The Role of Adolescent Romantic Relationship Aspects as Mediators and Moderators

Rattigan, Susaye S.

Abstract Details

2010, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
Childhood maltreatment represents a significant social issue that places individuals at risk for adolescent antisocial behavior and compound their risk for poor adult outcomes. While not all maltreated adolescents display antisocial behavior, understanding the factors that modify risk for antisocial behavior is an important avenue of inquiry. Aspects of adolescent romantic relationships, which have only rarely been examined in maltreated adolescent populations, have been identified as important developmental factors that potentially impact the rates at which adolescents display antisocial behavior. Using Developmental Psychopathology as a theoretical framework, the impact of aspects of adolescent romantic relationships and childhood maltreatment on adolescent aggressive and non-aggressive antisocial behavior was examined. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the impact that various aspects of adolescent romantic relationship have on the association between childhood maltreatment and adolescent antisocial behavior concurrently, longitudinally and in a subsample of foster-care/adopted adolescents. Romantic relationship quality was hypothesized to moderate the association between childhood maltreatment and antisocial behavior, while early romantic involvement and involvement with an older romantic partner were hypothesized as mediators. To test study hypotheses, maltreated and non-maltreated participants from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) study were used (N=5656). Consistent with study hypotheses, the results suggested that a history of childhood maltreatment significantly predicted aggressive and non-aggressive antisocial behavior both concurrently and longitudinally. Romantic relationship quality was found to moderate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent antisocial behavior; however, early romantic involvement and older romantic partners were not supported as mediators. In addition, significant effects of childhood maltreatment were not found longitudinally. Similarly, significant findings in the general sample were not replicated in the foster-care/adoptee subsample.
Manfred van Dulmen, PhD (Committee Chair)
Beth Wildman, PhD (Committee Member)
Josefina Grau, PhD (Committee Member)
David Hussey, PhD (Committee Member)
Vera Camden, PhD (Committee Member)
Daniel Flannery, PhD (Committee Member)
149 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rattigan, S. S. (2010). Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Antisocial Behavior: The Role of Adolescent Romantic Relationship Aspects as Mediators and Moderators [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1290915142

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rattigan, Susaye. Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Antisocial Behavior: The Role of Adolescent Romantic Relationship Aspects as Mediators and Moderators. 2010. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1290915142.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rattigan, Susaye. "Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Antisocial Behavior: The Role of Adolescent Romantic Relationship Aspects as Mediators and Moderators." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1290915142

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)