Stability and prediction of physical agresión from childhood to adolescence: A multi-informant study

Abstract

Aim of the study is to examine the stability and the predictive value of physical and verbal aggression reported by different informants (self, teachers and peer) from late childhood to middle adolescence), the inter informant agreement and their distal predictive values on indicators of adjustment (academic achievement, social preference, prosocial behavior) and maladjustment (depression, delinquency). As part of an Italian longitudinal project, 372 children (204 males and 168 females) participating at the study were examined annually from time 1 ( age 9.5) to time 5 (age 13.5). Results show gender differences in frequency and stability of physical and verbal aggression across informants. Futhermore they attest to the stability of individual differences in physical and verbal aggression and an overall decreasing at the mean level . Findings call attention on the risk associated to be highly aggressive according to different informants at age 9.5 and to later maladjustment outcomes.