A Review of the Effect of Childhood Maltreatment on Self-Control and Aggression During Adolescence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3333Keywords:
childhood, maltreatment, self-control, aggression, adolescenceAbstract
Childhood maltreatment, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or neglect, is a major predictor of increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems across development. This review examines how childhood maltreatment affects self-control and how, in turn, that relates to aggression during adolescence. Maltreated children often struggle with emotion regulation and impulse control, which can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior in adolescence. Across multiple studies, this review identifies that deficits in self-control partially explain why maltreated youth are more likely to exhibit aggression. However, supportive relationships with parents, teachers, and peers can buffer these effects by fostering improved emotion regulation and behavioral control. Programs that can focus on building self-control, improving emotional awareness, and strengthening attachment between children and caregivers have been shown to reduce aggression. Overall, this review highlights that self-control is a key factor linking childhood maltreatment to aggression in adolescence and suggests that interventions targeting self-regulation and supportive relationships may buffer the negative effects of childhood maltreatment.
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