Adverse childhood experiences and co-occurring psychological distress and substance abuse among juvenile offenders: the role of protective factors

Public Health ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 42-47
Author(s):  
T. Lensch ◽  
K. Clements-Nolle ◽  
R.F. Oman ◽  
W.P. Evans ◽  
M. Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Juvenile Offenders ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Gang Involvement Among Juvenile Offenders: Assessing the Mediation Effects of Substance Use and Temperament Deficits

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin T. Wolff ◽  
Michael T. Baglivio ◽  
Hannah J. Klein ◽  
Alex R. Piquero ◽  
Matt DeLisi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Juvenile Offenders ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Gang Involvement ◽  
Adverse Childhood

A growing body of research has demonstrated the deleterious effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Less understood is the role of ACEs in gang involvement among juvenile offenders. The current longitudinal study employs a sample of 104,267 juvenile offenders (mean age of 16, 76% male, 46% Black non-Hispanic, 15.7% Hispanic) to examine the effect of ACE exposure on two different measures of gang involvement by age 18. We use structural equation modeling to test whether higher ACE exposure at Time 1 predicts gang involvement and whether current substance use and/or difficult temperament mediates the ACE-gang involvement relationship. Results indicate ACE exposure at Time 1 predicts gang involvement by age 18, but that much of the effect of ACEs on later gang involvement can be explained by their impact on current substance abuse and difficult temperament. Implications for juvenile justice systems are discussed.

Positive Childhood Experiences (PCE): Cumulative Resiliency in the Face of Adverse Childhood Experiences

2020 ◽  
pp. 154120402097248
Author(s):  
Michael T. Baglivio ◽  
Kevin T. Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Offenders ◽  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Face ◽  
Justice Practice

The maltreatment-offending relationship has been well elucidated. Less examined are protective factors that effectively serve to mitigate offending among ACE-exposed youth. The current study examines whether cumulative positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are themselves associated with a reduction in recidivism among juvenile justice-involved adolescents, and the ability of cumulative PCE to moderate the ACE-recidivism relationship. Results demonstrate, among over 28,000 juvenile offenders, high ACE scores were associated with increased reoffending, and high PCE scores were associated with decreased recidivism, as measured by both rearrest and reconviction. Further, among juveniles with four or more ACEs who have six or more PCEs, reconviction was 23% lower and rearrest 22% lower when compared to those youth with four or more ACEs and less than six PCEs, controlling for a host of demographic and criminal history measures. Findings indicate that among youth with high PCE scores the positive association between ACEs and recidivism is no longer significant. Implications for juvenile justice practice and policy are discussed.

Early Adverse Childhood Experiences and Self-Control Development among Youth in Fragile Families

2021 ◽  
pp. 0044118X2199637
Author(s):  
Melissa S. Jones ◽  
Hayley Pierce ◽  
Constance L. Chapple
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Behavioral Outcomes ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Fragile Families ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Considerable Research ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Using Data

Though considerable research links both a lack of self-control and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to a variety of negative health and behavioral outcomes, few studies to date have explored whether ACEs are associated with deficits in self-control. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCW; n = 3,444) and a life course theoretical framework, this study aims to address this gap in the literature by examining the relationships between individual ACEs, cumulative ACEs, timing of ACEs, and durations of early ACEs and self-control development among youth. Our results indicate that as the number of ACEs (by age 5) experienced incrementally increases, the likelihood of reported self-control decreases. Moreover, when it comes to the timing and duration of ACE exposure, ACEs that are high but late, intermittent, or chronically high significantly decrease self-control. Based on our findings, researchers should continue to explore the role of ACEs in youth self-control development.

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