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A test of the reactive aggression-suicidal behavior hypothesis: is there a case for proactive aggression?
Kenneth R Conner1, Marc T Swogger, Rebecca J Houston
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|February 19, 2009
Summary
Proactive aggression (PA) is linked to suicidal behavior, challenging prior assumptions. This study found proactive aggression associated with suicide attempts and ideation, particularly in men, indicating a need for further research.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Criminology
Background:
- Aggressive behavior is often classified into reactive aggression (RA) and proactive aggression (PA).
- A prevalent hypothesis suggests RA, not PA, is linked to suicidal behavior.
- Empirical investigation into PA's association with suicidal behavior is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between RA and PA with suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.
- To investigate the moderating effect of sex on these associations.
Main Methods:
- The study included 878 male and female patients in substance-dependence treatment programs.
- Associations between RA and PA with suicide attempts and suicidal ideation were analyzed.
- Moderating effects of sex were examined.
Main Results:
- Contrary to hypotheses, PA was significantly associated with both suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.
- RA was associated with suicidal outcomes in initial analyses, but not in multivariate analyses for suicide attempts.
- Sex moderated the PA-suicide attempt link, with the association present in men but not women.
Conclusions:
- The findings challenge the longstanding assumption that PA is unrelated to suicidal behavior.
- Proactive aggression warrants further investigation in the context of suicidal behavior.
- Clinical and research approaches to aggression and suicidality may need to consider PA and sex differences.
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