Risk and Resilience Factors for Violent Criminal Behavior across the Life Course

• In Event: Consequences of Victimization: Biosocial and Developmental Perspectives

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that individuals differ in their age of onset and rate of antisocial behavior across the life course. For some, antisocial behavior is limited to adolescence (adolescence-limited (AL)), while for others, antisocial behavior emerges early in childhood and persists throughout adolescence and well into adulthood (life-course-persistent (LCP)). Research examining AL and LCP patterns of antisocial behavior suggest that unique sets of risk factors and vulnerabilities increase the probability for AL and LCP offending. Despite this growing body of literature, findings have been limited to short-term longitudinal designs and have not considered the potential role of resiliency factors for AL and/or LCP offending across the life course. Similarly, research is beginning to show that vulnerability for and resiliency to life course patterns of antisocial behavior varies across sex. Thus, the current study uses extensive longitudinal data from Waves I through V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine how environmental, familial, and individual factors, including victimization experiences, operate as components of risk and resilience for AL and LCP offending in males and females across the life course.

Authors

• Eric Cooke, Sam Houston State University

• Danielle Boisvert, Sam Houston State University

• Eric J. Connolly, Sam Houston State University