Investigating the Mediating Role of Affect Integration in the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adulthood Aggressive Behaviors

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Razi university

2 Razi University

10.22038/jfmh.2024.76565.3101

Abstract

Introduction: Considering the destructive consequences of aggression for the individual and the society and the importance of identifying influencing factors, the present study was conducted to investigate the mediating role of affect integration in the relationship between ACEs and aggression.

Materials and Methods: In an analytical cross-sectional study, 288 adults were selected from the general population of Iran and were measured using the short form of the childhood trauma questionnaire, risky, impulsive, and self-destructive behavior questionnaire and the short form of the affect integration inventory. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test, Fisher's z test and structural equation modeling using SPSS-26 and Mplus-8 software.

Results: There were negative correlations between aggression and affect integration components (from r=-0.36 to r=-0.42, P<0.01) and positive correlations between aggression and ACEs (from r=0.29 to r=0.48, P<0.01). The proposed model had a good fitness with the data (RMSEA=0.07, SRMR=0.04, CFI=0.95, TLI=0.93). ACEs had an effect on aggression both directly (β=0.42, P<0.01,) and indirectly through the reduction of affect integration (β=0.12, P<0.01).Thirty-four percent of the total variance of affect integration and 32% of the total variance of aggression were explained by the model.

Conclusion: ACEs lead to increased aggression both directly and indirectly by reducing affect integration and by carrying out interventions on affect integration, aggression can be reduced in those who suffer from ACEs.

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Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 June 2024

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