Toward a Stress Process Model of Adolescent Violent Criminality

• In Event: Adverse Childhood Experiences: Mental Health, Offense Seriousness and Violence among Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

Youth violence is a serious societal concern that exacerbates socioeconomic and heath disparities in the United States. Locating the root cause of youth violent criminality is critical to create effective reform and intervention initiatives. It is especially to uncover root causes among those most at-risk of recidivism, such as early-onset juvenile offenders. Adverse childhood experiences have been associated with severe stress-related symptoms and externalizing behavior not only among adults but also among adolescents. The aim of the study is to apply the stress process model to investigate if chronic stress has implications for the frequency and severity of violent criminality among early adolescents. The stress process model proposes that juveniles with multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACE), or chronic stress, are more susceptible to violent criminality. I employ regression models to analyze 2,000 juveniles tracked by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) who were assessed at 13 years old and were reassessed 10-14 months later. I anticipate three key findings: (1) Youth with higher ACE scores will have a higher probability of committing violent misdemeanors; (2) Youth with higher ACE scores will have a higher probability of committing violent felonies; (2) Youth with higher ACE scores will have a higher probability of committing weapons offenses. These findings suggest that the etiology of youth violent criminality may be rooted in childhood adversity. Implications and limitations are discussed herein.

Author

• Micah E. Johnson, University of Florida