title: The developmental relation between aggressive behaviour and prosocial behaviour: A 5-year longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Past research has shown links between both children's aggressive behaviour and a lack of prosocial behaviour to later maladaptation. Both types of behaviours have also been identified as crucial in children's social and emotional development and later (mal)adaptation. However, little is known about the way they predict each other over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We utilised a large, ethnically diverse, longitudinal population sample of girls and boys (N = 1,334) to examine the bidirectional cross-lagged links between aggressive and prosocial domains of behaviour from age seven to eleven. Teacher, parent and child self-reports were utilised to assess aggressive behaviour and prosocial behaviour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that aggressive behaviour measured one year predicted decreases in prosocial behaviour in the following year. Conversely, prosocial behaviour did not predict changes in aggressive behaviour in the subsequent year. Furthermore, peer difficulties were examined and found to be an important mediator of the link between aggressive and prosocial behaviour. Specifically, peer difficulties mediated the links between aggressive behaviour and prosocial behaviour one year later, particularly during the first three years of school attendance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications of the findings for the design of intervention strategies to reduce children's aggressive behaviour are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Site, Cambridge, CB3 9DA UK.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Obsuth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Site, Cambridge, CB3 9DA UK.
authors.forename: Manuel P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Eisner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 3359 Mississauga Rd. N., Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6 Canada.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malti
authors.affiliation: Criminological Research Unit, Chair of Sociology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), WEP H18, Weinbergstrasse 109, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ribeaud
keywords: Aggressive behaviour; Childhood; Longitudinal study; Peer difficulties; Prosocial behaviour