Trauma and mental health problems in boys in the juvenile justice system: Differences between childhood-onset and adolescent-onset offenders

• In Event: Mental health problems in forensic settings

Abstract

Youths in juvenile justice settings are more likely to have mental health problems than peers in the community. Therefore, it is important to develop understanding of antecedents of mental health problems in this group. The present study examined the association between childhood trauma and mental health problems in juvenile justice-involved adolescent males (N = 422). We compared childhood-onset with adolescent-onset offenders. Childhood-onset offenders were more likely than adolescent-onset offenders to report mental health and substance use problems, and childhood maltreatment. Via structural equation modeling we found that childhood trauma predicted mental health problems in both offender groups. Multi-group analysis revealed a moderation effect of offender group: the association between trauma and mental health problems was stronger in adolescent-onset offenders than in childhood-onset offenders. Thus, mental health problems were more prevalent in childhood-onset offenders, but these problems were less well explained by childhood trauma in childhood-onset than in adolescent-onset offenders. Theoretical and practical implications will be discussed.

Authors

• Machteld Hoeve, University of Amsterdam

• Olivier F. Colins, Curium-Leiden University Medical Center

• Eva Mulder, Academic Workplace Forensic Care for Youth

• Rolf Loeber, University of Pittsburgh

• Geert Jan G.J. Stams, University of Amsterdam

• Robert R.J.M. Vermeiren, Curium-Leiden University Medical Center