Childhood maltreatment and adult aggression: The moderating role of neurocognitive ability and substance use

Abstract

Background

Achieving positive intervention outcomes for aggressive behaviour in adulthood is challenging. This difficulty is enhanced by the complex presentations of those engaging in such behaviours and the impact this has on their engagement with interventions.

Objective

This study assessed the cumulative impact of childhood maltreatment, substance use, and neurocognitive ability (working memory, cognitive flexibility, decision making, response inhibition, and cognitive control) on aggressive behaviour in adulthood.

Participants and setting

Adult participants (N = 179; 69 % female) recruited from the community, and clinical and forensic services, aged 18 to 81 (M = 40.5, SD = 15.9).

Methods

Participants completed an online Qualtrics survey and remote neurocognitive testing via Inquisit.

Results

We implemented an a priori approach, assessing three-way interactions between childhood maltreatment, substance use, neurocognitive ability, and aggression. No three-way interactions were significant. We then utilised a data-driven modelling approach, using automatic linear forward stepwise modelling to identify the most important variables for predicting aggression. Four were significant: physical maltreatment (b = 0.053, p < .001), drug use risk level (b = 0.015, p < .001), poorer response inhibition (b = 0.001, p = .016), and the interaction between poorer response inhibition and physical maltreatment (b = 0.205, p = .017).

Conclusions

Physical maltreatment in childhood, drug use risk level, and response inhibition impact significantly on adult aggression, indicating a need for early intervention for children who have experienced maltreatment. Consideration should be given to how maltreatment in childhood may impact on ability to engage with interventions as an adult, particularly response inhibition difficulties that may hinder skill implementation.