The Role of Co-Occurring Mental Health, Physical Health, and Substance Use on Criminal Behavior

• In Event: Mental Health, Trauma, and Violence Among Online Communities and Justice-Involved Populations

Abstract

Health plays a central role in the lives of all individuals, including those who commit crime. Research findings have suggested that people with mental health, physical health, and substance use concerns are at higher risk for offending than people without such concerns. Scholars have examined the association between co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns and offending. However, there is a dearth of research examining the effects of other combinations of co-occurring health problems. The purpose of this study is to examine how different health issues—both isolated (i.e., one/single health issue) and co-occurring—are associated with offending among youth. I use longitudinal data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to examine three hypotheses: 1) youth with single health issues are more likely to engage in criminal behavior, 2) youth with co-occurring health issues have a higher risk of criminal behavior than those with a single health issue, and 3) youth with co-occurring mental health, physical health, and substance use issues will be the most likely to engage in criminal behavior. Results from this study will improve our understanding of how specific health issues and their combinations contribute to offending, leading to more targeted intervention programs.

Author

• Sarah A. Al Falatah, University of Nebraska Omaha