Juvenile Out of Home Placement and Psychosocial Maturity in Adulthood

• In Event: The Impact of Formal Intevention on Subsequent Development and Offending

Abstract

Qualitative research suggests that out of home placement for juveniles can have detrimental effects on youths’ transition to adulthood by hampering their ability to develop psychosocial capacities. The current study uses nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to assess psychosocial maturity and recidivism using a sample of approximately 285 adolescents placed in correctional confinement for an average of 1 year to young adults who report an arrest before age 18 but no juvenile correctional confinement (n=578). Using Steinberg’s (2002) domains of psychosocial capacities to operationalize Greenberger’s (1984) concept of psychosocial maturity, we compare our samples at Waves 1 and 4. Preliminary results show that respondents who served time in a juvenile correctional facility are significantly more likely to be arrested as adults, exhibit significant difficulty reaching key transitions in adulthood in work (higher levels of unemployment) and education (lower levels HS degree completion, GED completion as well as college completion). Civic engagement is lower among juvenile offenders who spent time in a juvenile correctional facility (in both voting and volunteering). Thus, preliminary results suggest out of home placement among juvenile offenders inhibits multiple dimensions of psychosocial maturity well into adulthood.

Authors

• Shelly Schaefer, Hamline University

• Gina Erickson, Hamline University