Abstract
Aggressive behaviors can be classified into proactive and reactive functions, though there is disagreement about whether these are distinct constructs. Data suggest that proactive and reactive aggression have different etiologies, correlates, and response to treatment. Several rating scales are available to characterize aggressive behavior as proactive or reactive; one commonly used scale was originally developed for teacher ratings, referred to here as the Antisocial Behavior Scale (ABS). However, no data are available on the psychometric properties of the ABS for parent ratings. This study examined the factor structure and convergent/divergent validity of the parent-rated ABS among 168 children aged 6–12 years with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a disruptive behavior disorder, and severe aggression enrolled in a randomized clinical trial. Multidimensional item response theory was used to confirm the original factor structure. The proactive and reactive factors were distinct but moderately correlated; the algorithm items exhibited acceptable fit on the original factors. The non-algorithm items caused theoretical problems and model misfit. Convergent and divergent validity of the scale was explored between the ABS and other parent-report measures. Proactive and reactive aggression showed differential correlates consistent with expectations for externalizing symptoms. The subscales were correlated weakly or not at all with most non-externalizing symptoms, with some exceptions. Thus, the original factor structure was supported and we found preliminary evidence for the validity of the scale, though the results suggest that the constructs measured by the ABS may not be totally distinct from general behavior problems in this clinical sample.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by grants from National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to The Ohio State University (R01 MH077907), Case Western Reserve University (R01 MH077750), the University of Pittsburgh (R01 MH077676), and Stony Brook University (R01 MH 077997). The project was supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) General Clinical Research Center grant M01RR10710 (State University of New York Stony Brook) and Clinical and Translational Science Awards from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: grants 8UL1TR000090-05 (The Ohio State University) and UL1 RR024153 and UL1TR000005 (University of Pittsburgh). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the respective National Centers for Advancing Translational Sciences or the NIH.
Conflict of interest
Dr. Findling receives or has received research support, acted as a consultant and/or served on a speaker’s bureau for Alexza Pharmaceuticals, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, American Physician Institute, American Psychiatric Press, AstraZeneca, Bracket, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Clinsys, Cognition Group, Coronado Biosciences, Dana Foundation, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Guilford Press, Johns Hopkins University Press, Johnson & Johnson, KemPharm, Lilly, Lundbeck, Merck, NIH, Novartis, Noven, Otsuka, Oxford University Press, Pfizer, Physicians Postgraduate Press, Rhodes Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Sage, Seaside Pharmaceuticals, Shire, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Sunovion, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Validus, and WebMD. Dr. Bukstein has received royalties from Routledge Press and acted as a consultant for Ezra Innovations and PRIME CME. Dr. Arnold has received research funding from CureMark, Forest, Eli Lilly and Co., and Shire; advisory board honoraria from Biomarin, Novartis, Noven, Roche, and Seaside Therapeutics; consulting fees from TrisPharma and Pfizer; and travel support from Noven. Dr. Bangalore has received research only support from Supernus Pharmaceuticals. Dr. McNamara has received research support from Forest Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly and Co., Lundbeck, Merck, the NIH, Novartis, Otsuka, Pfizer, Rhodes Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Shire, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Sunovion, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Aman has received research contracts, consulted with, or served on advisory boards of Biomarin Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cog State, Confluence Pharmaceutica, Coronado Biosciences, Forest Research, Hoffman LaRoche, Johnson and Johnson, MedAvante Inc., Novartis, Pfizer, ProPhase LLC, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Kaat, Dr. Farmer, and Dr. Gadow report no conflicts of interest.
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Dr. Farmer is now at the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Findling is now at Johns Hopkins University and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Bukstein is now at DePelchin Children’s Center, the University of Texas, and the Baylor College of Medicine.
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Kaat, A.J., Farmer, C.A., Gadow, K.D. et al. Factor Validity of a Proactive and Reactive Aggression Rating Scale. J Child Fam Stud 24, 2734–2744 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-0075-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-0075-5