Independent contributions of callous-unemotional behaviors and quantitative autistic traits to aggression in early childhood

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Callous-unemotional (CU) behaviors and quantitative autistic traits (QATs), heritable domains implicated in social development, are both associated with reduced prosocial behavior and increased aggression at their clinical extremes. However, they are hypothesized to contribute to aggression through separate mechanisms. This study tested whether CU behaviors and QATs exhibited distinct profiles of heritable influences as well as independent contributions to early childhood aggression in a general population sample with enhanced sensitivity to clarify these relationships.

METHOD: Parents of 3- to 4-year-old epidemiologically representative twins ascertained from birth records (N = 113 pairs) completed questionnaires measuring CU behaviors, QATs, and aggression. Correlation coefficients indexed overlap across behaviors. Intraclass correlations were compared between monozygotic and dizygotic twins to characterize relative genetic and environmental influences. Generalized estimating equations tested contributions of CU subdomains, verified via factor analysis, and QATs to aggression.

RESULTS: Total CU scores strongly correlated with QATs (r = 0.54) and aggression (r = 0.55), while QATs correlated moderately with aggression (r = 0.38). Among 3 identified CU factors, the uncaring factor strongly correlated with QATs (r = 0.52), while unemotional and callous factors showed small correlations (r = 0.25 and r = 0.16, respectively). QATs, aggression, and all CU factors except the callous factor showed heritable influences. Uncaring and callous factors as well as QATs demonstrated unique and shared contributions to aggression, with the callous factor being moderated by sex.

CONCLUSION: Partially overlapping relations support distinct mechanisms whereby CU behaviors, in particular the callous factor, and QATs contribute to early aggression. In-depth social developmental assessment may enhance personalized intervention for aggression in early childhood.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT: We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure sex balance in the selection of non-human subjects. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science.