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The Relationship Between Hostile Intent Attribution and Aggression in Japanese Children

Nozomi Yamamoto1, Sho Ohigashi2, Naoya Todo3

  • 1Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. yamamoto.nozomi.78s@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp.

Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|November 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Hostile intent attribution (HIA) is linked to aggression in children. This study found hyperactivity significantly mediates this relationship, suggesting it plays a key role in childhood aggression development.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Social Cognition

Background:

  • Hostile intent attribution (HIA) is a known correlate and contributor to childhood aggression.
  • Limited research exists on the specific factors mediating the HIA-aggression link in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the correlation between HIA and aggression in Japanese children (4-9 years).
  • To investigate hyperactivity, prosociality, and collaborative problem-solving as mediators in the HIA-aggression relationship.

Main Methods:

  • 180 Japanese children (4-9 years) and their caregivers participated.
  • Caregivers completed questionnaires on child aggression, hyperactivity, prosociality, and collaborative problem-solving.
  • Children completed a hostile intent attribution task.

Main Results:

  • A weak positive correlation was found between HIA and aggression.
  • All proposed mediators showed significant indirect effects on the HIA-aggression relationship.
  • Hyperactivity emerged as the most significant mediator in a model including all three variables.

Conclusions:

  • Hyperactivity plays a crucial role in the mechanism linking HIA to aggression in young children.
  • Understanding these mediators offers insights into preventing and intervening in childhood aggression.

Keywords:
AggressionChildrenHostile intent attributionHyperactivityProblem solvingProsociality

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