Pathways to Early Mortality for Serious Violent Young Offenders: A Risky Lifestyles Approach

• In Event: Criminal, Social, and Health Outcomes of Serious and Violent Youth

Abstract

The extant literature has demonstrated that offenders are at a higher risk for early mortality than non-offenders, but few studies have empirically identified the specific mechanisms that increase this risk. Tremblay and Pare (2003) specified three pathways to early mortality in offender populations: the occupational-hazard model, the general-hazard model, and the strain-hazard model. The current study tested the latter two models. The general-hazard model suggests that offenders experience a higher likelihood of accident-driven deaths because of risky lifestyle choices. The strain-hazard model emphasizes the prevalence of self-inflicted deaths in offender populations resulting from differential exposure to aversive life conditions and strain. Data from the Incarcerated Serious and Violent Young Offender Study were used to measure aspects of these two models. The general-hazard model was captured via indicators of risky lifestyle (e.g., substance use versatility) and the strain-hazard model was captured via indicators of internal and external sources of strain (e.g., self-reported victimization, negative self-identity, family dysfunction). These measures were included in a logistic regression analysis with early mortality as the outcome of interest. Especially given the recent opioid epidemic, this study is relevant for harm reduction policies aimed at reducing early mortality.

Authors

• Nick Pauls, Simon Fraser University

• Evan McCuish, Simon Fraser University

• Raymond Corrado, Simon Fraser University