UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Kuny Slock, Ana Victoria
Dept./Program:
Psychology
Year:
2012
Degree:
PhD
Abstract:
Subtyping of aggressive and deviant behaviors may be especially important if clinicians and researchers hope to understand their association with the later development of psychopathology (Copeland, Shanahan, Costello, & Angold, 2009). Current techniques for assessing both normative and deviant aggression may not be capturing important differences between individuals and these differences may be import for better understanding, treating, and preventing of many forms of child behavior disorders. The primary aim of this proposal is to better understand the relation between childhood oppositional defiant behaviors (ODB) and adult psychopathology. To do so, the present study examined oppositional defiant behavior in both a general population and a family study sample to address three specific aims.
(A) to determine differences between latent classes that distinguish defiance from reactivity, (b) to determine the associations between specific allelic variation in monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes with oppositional behavior and how these differ using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) characterization versus latent-class-derived oppositionality, and (c) to determine the adult outcome of latent-class childhood derived oppositionality. The results determined that latent classes did in fact differentiate between oppositional defiance and emotional reactivity in childhood. Furthermore, latent-class derived oppositionality in childhood was significantly associated with both adult violent behavior and mood disorder risk using adult self-report.
Although the present study did not find support for the association between specific allelic variations of the genes MAOA and COMT and oppositional behavior in children, this may be due to the influence of a range of environmental factors that were not examined in this study (e.g., parenting style). Overall, the present study supports the notion that a better understanding of childhood oppositionality is necessary when considering intervention and treatment options for troubled families. Moreover, childhood differences in oppositionality may help refine our understanding of which children are in "high risk" trajectories for certain adult psychopathologies. More research in this area is necessary in order to better understand the nature of these differences and their implications over an individual's lifespan.
(A) to determine differences between latent classes that distinguish defiance from reactivity, (b) to determine the associations between specific allelic variation in monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes with oppositional behavior and how these differ using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) characterization versus latent-class-derived oppositionality, and (c) to determine the adult outcome of latent-class childhood derived oppositionality. The results determined that latent classes did in fact differentiate between oppositional defiance and emotional reactivity in childhood. Furthermore, latent-class derived oppositionality in childhood was significantly associated with both adult violent behavior and mood disorder risk using adult self-report.
Although the present study did not find support for the association between specific allelic variations of the genes MAOA and COMT and oppositional behavior in children, this may be due to the influence of a range of environmental factors that were not examined in this study (e.g., parenting style). Overall, the present study supports the notion that a better understanding of childhood oppositionality is necessary when considering intervention and treatment options for troubled families. Moreover, childhood differences in oppositionality may help refine our understanding of which children are in "high risk" trajectories for certain adult psychopathologies. More research in this area is necessary in order to better understand the nature of these differences and their implications over an individual's lifespan.