Research on violence has highlighted the role of trait negative affect in reactive aggressive behavior. Emotion dysregulation is a multidimensional construct reflecting maladaptive ways in which a person experiences and responds to emotional states, and has also been empirically linked to aggression. This study sought to test the hypothesis that multiple facets of emotion dysregulation would mediate the relationship between negative affect and physical aggression in a nonclinical sample. An additional aim was to examine the moderating effect of sex in the relationship between negative affect and aggression, and whether mediators differ as a function of sex. Three-hundred and eighteen participants completed measures of physical aggression, difficulties in emotion regulation, and negative affect. Results showed that sex moderated the relationship between negative affect and physical aggression, and emotion dysregulation fully mediated the relationship between these variables in both males and females. While difficulty inhibiting impulsive behavior when distressed was a significant mediator across sexes, difficulties with emotional awareness demonstrated a mediation effect only in males. Findings provide preliminary support for the facets of emotion dysregulation that are important in understanding the negative affect -physical aggression association in males and females.

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Although a subset of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans show aggression toward others after they return home from military service, little is known about protective mechanisms that could be bolstered to prevent violence. A national longitudinal survey was conducted between 2009 and 2011 using a random sample of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. One thousand ninety veterans, from 50 states representing all military branches, completed two waves of data collection, one-year apart (retention rate=79%). The final sample resembled the U.S. military post 9/11 in terms of age, sex, ethnicity, geography, and service branch. Protective mechanisms in socioeconomic (money to cover basic needs, stable employment), psychosocial (resilience, perceiving control over one’s life, social support), and physical (healthy sleep, no physical pain) domains were examined. We found these protective mechanisms predicted decreased aggression and violence at follow-up, particularly with higher risk veterans. Multivariable analyses confirmed protective mechanisms lowered violence through their interaction with risk factors. This study identifies protective mechanisms related to decreased community violence in veterans and indicates that rehabilitation aimed at improving socioeconomic, psychosocial, and physical well-being has potential promise to reduce aggression and violence among veterans after returning home from military service.

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The American Psychological Association Council of Representatives has endorsed prescription privileges for professional psychologists. Several states have introduced prescription privileges legislation, and training models are being developed. Within this movement, however, the voices of psychologistsin-training have been unheard. If prescription privileges are obtained, psychologists-in-training would experience immediate and profound effects, particularly relating to training issues. This article provides an overview of training proposals, concerns regarding these proposals, and suggestions for engaging future psychologists in the prescription privileges discussion. Integration of the ideas of psychologistsin-training is becoming increasingly important as the discussion of prescription privileges for psychologists continues.Well before the American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives formally endorsed prescriptive privi-KATHERINE M. HANSON received her masters degree in counseling psychology from Fordham University and is currently pursuing a PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Current professional interests are in the areas of coping processes and geropsychology. CHARIS E. LOUIE received her MA in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is currently a doctoral student in that area. Her research interests are in the areas of Asian American racial identity development and Asian American families. LYNN M. VAN MALE received her MA in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is currently pursuing a PhD in that area. Current research interests include sexual function, dysfunction, and deviation. AALECE O. PUGH received her MA from the University of Missouri-Columbia in counseling psychology and is currently pursuing a PhD in that area. Her research interest is in the area of Black women's issues, focusing particularly on criminal behavior and health concerns. CLAIRE KARL is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her research interests are currently focused on the psychophysiology of emotion. LAURA MUHLENBROOK is currently pursuing a PhD in social psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her research interests are in the areas of deception detection and health psychology. RODERICK L. LILLY received his MS in general psychology from the University of Memphis, and he is currently working toward a PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His research interests include gender role issues and group processes. KRISTOFER J. HAGGLUND is associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His research interests include health and disability policy and adaptation to disability and chronic illness. THIS ARTICLE WAS INITIALLY CONCEPTUALIZED by the first seven authors as partial fulfillment of the requirements for completion of a graduate course in health psychology and is submitted under the direc...