A Longitudinal Investigation of Trauma Exposure, Retraumatization, and Post-Traumatic Stress of Justice-Involved Adolescents

• In Event: Trauma and Victimization of Justice-Involved Youth

Abstract

The current study utilized longitudinal data collected from 1,354 justice-involved adolescents as part of the Pathways to Desistance study to analytically identify trajectories of trauma exposure and trauma symptoms. A parallel process latent growth model including repeated measures of trauma exposure and trauma symptoms was assessed to describe the joint evolution of trauma exposure and trauma symptoms. Subsequent analyses explored trajectories of trauma exposure and trauma symptoms across race/ethnicity. Using the full sample, significant associations were observed between youth level of trauma exposure and level of trauma symptoms as well as between youth rate of change in trauma exposure and rate of change in trauma symptoms. Differences in trajectories were observed across race/ethnicity. These results provide a baseline for understanding trauma exposure, retraumatization, and trauma symptoms. Further analyses are needed to assess the impact of individual, familial, and environmental influences on trauma exposure and trauma symptoms including the impact of timing and duration of detention in juvenile facilities.

Authors

• Joan A Reid, University of South Florida St. Petersburg

• Thomas Loughran, University of Maryland