Callous-unemotional traits, low cortisol reactivity and physical aggression in children: findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study

Wright, Nicola ORCID: 0000-0002-3285-2051, Hill, Jonathan, Pickles, Andrew and Sharp, Helen (2019) Callous-unemotional traits, low cortisol reactivity and physical aggression in children: findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study. TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY, 9 (1). 79-.

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Abstract

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are thought to confer risk for aggression via reduced amygdala responsivity to distress cues in others. Low cortisol reactivity is thought to confer risk for aggression via reduced arousal and this effect may be confined to boys. We tested the hypothesis that the association between childhood CU traits and aggression would be greatest in the absence of the inhibitory effects of cortisol reactivity, and that this effect would be sex dependent. Participants were 283 members of a stratified subsample within an epidemiological longitudinal cohort (WCHADS). Cortisol reactivity to a social stressor was assessed at 5 years. CU traits were reported by mothers at 5 years, and physical aggression by mothers and teachers at age 7. Results showed that CU traits were associated with elevated aggression at 7 years controlling for earlier aggression. There was no main effect of cortisol reactivity on regression. The association between CU traits and aggression was moderated by cortisol reactivity (p = .011) with a strong association between CU traits and aggression in the presence of low reactivity, and a small and non-significant association in the presence of high reactivity. This association was further moderated by child sex (p = .041) with the joint effect of high CU traits and low cortisol reactivity seen only in boys (p = .016). We report first evidence that a combined deficit in inhibitory processes associated with CU traits and low cortisol reactivity increases risk for childhood aggression, in a sex-dependent manner.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Hydrocortisone, Cohort Studies, Aggression, Stress, Psychological, Emotions, Child Development, Personality, Sex Factors, Adolescent, Adult, Middle Aged, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Male, Young Adult, Psychology, Child, Surveys and Questionnaires
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	07 Jan 2020 11:29
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 00:12
DOI:	10.1038/s41398-019-0406-9
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-019-0406-9
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3066261

Available Versions of this Item

• Callous-unemotional traits, low cortisol reactivity and physical aggression in children: findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study. (deposited 12 Feb 2019 12:59)
  • Callous-unemotional traits, low cortisol reactivity and physical aggression in children: findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study. (deposited 20 Feb 2019 08:36)
    • Callous-unemotional traits, low cortisol reactivity and physical aggression in children: findings from the Wirral Child Health and Development Study. (deposited 07 Jan 2020 11:29) [Currently Displayed]