Are the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Violent Recidivism Offense-Specific?

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-44
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Craig ◽  
Haley R. Zettler

A growing body of literature has found that exposure to child maltreatment and other forms of family dysfunction, often conceptualized as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), are associated with delinquent and criminal behavior. Recent research has indicated that the effects of ACEs on offending may differ not only by offense type but also by sex and race/ethnicity. However, no study to-date has investigated the effects of ACEs on violent-specific recidivism, nor how these effects differ by sex- and racial/ethnic-specific subgroups. The current study seeks to address this gap by examining a large, diverse sample of serious delinquents institutionalized in a large southern state. The results indicated that while ACEs increased the likelihood of being rearrested for any violent felony, the effects were particularly strong for domestic violence and sexual offenses among white females and minority males. A discussion of these findings are presented, along with the limitations of the study.

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110082
Author(s):  
Renee M. Johnson ◽  
Ashley V. Hill ◽  
Vanya C. Jones ◽  
Terrinieka W. Powell ◽  
Lorraine T. Dean ◽  
...  

We examined racial/ethnic inequities in the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and examined the association between ACEs and selected health-related behaviors and problems. Data for this cross-sectional study come from the 2018 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey, a statewide survey of high school students (n = 40,188). ACEs included caregiver verbal abuse and household food insecurity, substance use or gambling, mental illness, and involvement with the criminal justice system. We estimated the prevalence of ACEs overall and by race/ethnicity, and then used multiple logistic regression to determine associations between ACEs and emotional/behavioral problems, adjusting for race/ethnicity. Outcome variables included emotional distress, poor school performance, suicidal ideation, fighting, alcohol use, and marijuana use. More than one fifth of students reported each individual ACE. Differences in the prevalence of ACEs by race/ethnicity were statistically significant (p < .001). More than one fourth (25.8%) reported one of the five ACEs, 15.1% reported two, and 15.4% reported three or more. For each ACE, reporting having experienced it (vs. not) was associated with a >30% higher prevalence for each of the outcome variables. Among students who reported three or more ACEs (relative to none), the odds of emotional distress and suicidal ideation were more than 8 times greater. Among Maryland adolescents, ACEs are common, are inequitably distributed by race/ethnicity, and are strongly linked to behavioral health. Findings suggest the need to monitor ACEs as a routine component of adolescent health surveillance and to refocus assessment and intervention toward “upstream” factors that shape adolescent health.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 514-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angie S Guinn ◽  
Katie A Ports ◽  
Derek C Ford ◽  
Matt Breiding ◽  
Melissa T Merrick

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can negatively affect lifelong health and opportunity. Acquired brain injury (ABI), which includes traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as other causes of brain injury, is a health condition that affects millions annually. The present study uses data from the 2014 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to examine the relationship between ACEs and ABI. The study sample included 3454 participants who completed questions on both ABI and ACEs. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the relationship between ACEs and ABI as well as ACEs and TBI. Sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, household mental illness and household substance abuse were significantly associated with ABI after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, gender and employment. Compared with those reporting no ACEs, individuals reporting three ACEs had 2.55 times the odds of having experienced an ABI; individuals reporting four or more ACEs had 3.51 times the odds of having experienced an ABI. Examining TBI separately, those who experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, household mental illness and had incarcerated household members in childhood had greater odds of reported TBI, after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, gender and income. Respondents reporting three ACEs (AOR=4.16, 95% CI (1.47 to 11.76)) and four or more ACEs (AOR=3.39, 95% CI (1.45 to 7.90)) had significantly greater odds of reporting TBI than respondents with zero ACEs. Prevention of early adversity may reduce the incidence of ABI; however, additional research is required to elucidate the potential pathways from ACEs to ABI, and vice versa.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Craig ◽  
Jonathan Intravia ◽  
Kevin T. Wolff ◽  
Michael T. Baglivio

Although the deleterious impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on offending has been established, less is known about the possible protective factors that may buffer this relationship. Using a sample of over 28,000 adjudicated delinquents from a large southern state, the current study investigated the role of substance (non)use on the relationship between ACEs and recidivism and whether these results differed by race/ethnicity and sex. Results illustrate that ACEs increase the likelihood of recidivism among youth who engaged in moderate-to-high substance use. However, this effect was not found among youth who reported little-to-no substance use. Furthermore, these effects were largely consistent across race/ethnicity and sex. Policy implications of this buffering effect are discussed as well as limitations and directions for future research.


Author(s):  
Ellen Goldstein ◽  
James Topitzes ◽  
Julie Miller-Cribbs ◽  
Roger L. Brown

Abstract Background The impact of early adversity increases the risk of poor outcomes across the life course. Identifying factors that protect against or contribute to deleterious life outcomes represents an important step in resilience promotion among children exposed to adversity. Informed by resilience science, we hypothesized that family resilience mediates the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and child flourishing, and these pathways vary by race/ethnicity and income. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis using the 2016–17 National Survey of Children’s Health data reported by parents/guardians for 44,686 children age 6–17 years. A moderated-mediation model estimated direct, indirect, and total effects using a probit link function and stacked group approach with weighted least square parameter estimates. Results The main variables were related in expected directions. Family resilience partially mediated the ACEs-flourishing association. Although White and socioeconomically advantaged families were more likely to maintain family resilience, their children functioned more poorly at high-risk levels relative to Black and Hispanic children and across income groups. Conclusion Children suffer from cumulative adversity across race/ethnicity and income. Partial mediation of family resilience indicates that additional protective factors are needed to develop comprehensive strategies, while racial/ethnic differences underscore the importance of prevention and intervention programs that are culturally sensitive. Impact The key message of the article reinforces the notion that children suffer from cumulative adversity across race/ethnicity and income, and prevention of ACEs should be the number one charge of public policy, programs, and healthcare. This is the first study to examine family resilience in the National Survey Children’s Health (NSCH) data set as mediating ACEs-flourishing by race/ethnicity and family poverty level. Examining an ACEs dose–response effect using population-based data within the context of risk and protective factors can inform a public health response resulting in a greater impact on prevention efforts.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-37
Author(s):  
Bogdan-Ioan Merlușcă ◽  
Alina Chiracu

This research consists of two studies that aimed primarily on identifying the links between adverse childhood experiences, the level of self-control, the „dark” personality traits, and also their relationship with criminal behavior. In the first study we aimed to establish a relationship between all the variables. A sample of 232 psychology students participated in the research. They reported that they experienced a number of emotional adverse events in their childhood, and these events were positively associated with low levels of self-control and dark personality traits. The second study aimed to replicate the results obtained in the first study. Furthermore, we want to see the differences related to these variables between inmates and psychology students. In this study participated 87 inmates and 87 psychology students. The results showed that inmates predominantly experienced adverse childhood events of a physical nature, while students predominantly experienced adverse emotional events. It has been shown that psychopathy has been positively associated with offending behavior and the high frequency of adverse childhood events. The low level of self-control has been positively associated with adverse childhood events and negative personality traits. Further studies are needed in order to establish students' sensitivity thresholds in relation to adverse childhood events and to clarify the impact these events have had on students.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-37
Author(s):  
Bogdan-Ioan Merlușcă ◽  
Alina Chiracu

This research consists of two studies that aimed primarily on identifying the links between adverse childhood experiences, the level of self-control, the „dark” personality traits, and also their relationship with criminal behavior. In the first study we aimed to establish a relationship between all the variables. A sample of 232 psychology students participated in the research. They reported that they experienced a number of emotional adverse events in their childhood, and these events were positively associated with low levels of self-control and dark personality traits. The second study aimed to replicate the results obtained in the first study. Furthermore, we want to see the differences related to these variables between inmates and psychology students. In this study participated 87 inmates and 87 psychology students. The results showed that inmates predominantly experienced adverse childhood events of a physical nature, while students predominantly experienced adverse emotional events. It has been shown that psychopathy has been positively associated with offending behavior and the high frequency of adverse childhood events. The low level of self-control has been positively associated with adverse childhood events and negative personality traits. Further studies are needed in order to establish students' sensitivity thresholds in relation to adverse childhood events and to clarify the impact these events have had on students.


2020 ◽  
pp. 009385482097545
Author(s):  
Laura Van Duin ◽  
Michiel De Vries Robbé ◽  
Reshmi Marhe ◽  
Floor Bevaart ◽  
Josjan Zijlmans ◽  
...  

This study examines the relationship between criminal history and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how they collectively predict (a) recidivism and (b) positive social functioning among multi-problem young adults. Criminal records and self-report data regarding ACEs and adult education/employment and quality of life (QoL) were collected for 692 multiproblem young adults (18–27 years). Results indicated that an extensive criminal history was related to non-violent and violent recidivism and lack of involvement in education/employment in young adulthood. On the contrary, a higher number of ACEs was related to lower QoL later in life, while this was not associated with recidivism or education/employment. These findings highlight again that past criminal behavior is a strong predictor of future criminality, particularly within this group of young adults with multiple problems. Furthermore, experiencing negative events in childhood shows to have long-term negative effects on QoL even for these individuals who already experience multiple life problems. Implications are discussed.


Sexual Abuse ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107906322097003
Author(s):  
Rachel E. Kahn ◽  
Krystine Jackson ◽  
Kerry Keiser ◽  
Gina Ambroziak ◽  
Jill S. Levenson

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are increasingly recognized as a public health crisis. Cumulative effects of these experiences lead to a wide range of deleterious physical and psychological outcomes. Prior research has identified higher prevalence rates of ACEs and increased criminal behavior in samples of individuals who have committed sexual offenses. In a sample of civilly committed individuals who have committed sexual offenses ( N = 317), we examined the prevalence of ACEs (cumulative scores and the two components of child harm and family dysfunction) and their association with risk for sexual recidivism and adult psychopathology. ACEs were much more prevalent in this sample compared with the general population and to lower risk samples of individuals who had committed sexual offenses. Although ACE scores were unrelated to risk for sexual recidivism, higher ACE scores were associated with increased risk of psychopathology, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, substance use disorders, and Antisocial Personality Disorder. ACEs related to family dysfunction were uniquely associated with Alcohol Use Disorder and the presence of a dual diagnosis of a paraphilia and personality disorder. Results suggest that higher risk individuals who commit sexual offenses may have greater need for trauma-informed models of care that recognize the effect of these experiences on their mental health and offense-related behavior.


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