Child Maltreatment and Violent Delinquency: Disentangling Main Effects and Subgroup Effects

Abstract

This study employs data from the Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS) to investigate the relation between child maltreatment and the incidence and frequency of violent delinquency. The authors also examine if effects vary between physically abused and neglected children and if select indicators (sex, cumulative risk, public aid receipt) moderate the connections between maltreatment and violent outcomes. The CLS follows a cohort of 1,539 low-income, minority children who attended public kindergarten programs in 1985-1986. The primary sample includes 1,404 participants for whom maltreatment and delinquency status were verified. Maltreatment is significantly associated with all violent outcomes investigated. Effects are comparable for physically abused and neglected children. Results indicate that public assistance, particularly persistent receipt, moderates the association between maltreatment and multiple outcomes. Findings support the hypothesized connection between maltreatment and violent delinquency while highlighting certain subgroups that may be at elevated risk. Implications for research design and program development are discussed.

Predicting juvenile delinquency: The nexus of childhood maltreatment, depression and bipolar disorder

“…Most previ ous literature does not measure number of maltreatment types, just whether maltreatment occurred and, sometimes, which type (Smith and Thornberry, 1995;Maxfield and Widom, 1996;Lemmon, 1999;Wiebush et al, 2000;Mersky and Reynolds, 2007). More recently, however, it was found that experiencing multiple forms of maltreatment increased delinquency outcomes (Currie and Tekin, 2006) and that number of maltreatment types were linked to youth adju dication for a violent offense or multiple violent petitions (Mersky and Reynolds, 2007). Important additional information is needed to make sense of these con tradictions.…”

“…A history of maltreatment has been shown to be signifi cant even in the presence of these other risk factors (Smith and Thornberry, 1995;Maxfield and Widom, 1996;Lemmon, 1999;Wiebush et al, 2000), although most studies have documented a general link, and studies investigating an asso ciation between types of maltreatment individually (physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect) and delinquency have been limited (Currie and Tekin, 2006;Mersky and Reynolds, 2007). That this would be worth doing is suggested by the findings of Widom and Maxfield (2001), Egeland et al (2002) and Fagan (2005), which showed that physical abuse and neglect victims have an elevated risk for later delinquency, but victims of sexual abuse do not.…”

Classifying Violent Versus Nonviolent Offending in a Diverse Sample of Adolescent Juvenile Delinquents

“…Several studies have supported the link between increased risk of aggression and juvenile delinquency in victims of abuse and neglect (e.g., Hawkins et al, 1998;Lemmon, 2006;Mersky & Reynolds, 2007; Stouthamer- Loeber, Wei et al, 2002). For example, Lemmon (2006) found that maltreatment recurrence was a significant factor in explaining initiation, continuation, and severity of delinquency, even when statistically controlling for other factors such as social class, geographic location, and race.…”

Violence, health, and the 2030 agenda: Merging evidence and implementation

“…9 Similarly, a culture of family violence contributes to making a community less safe. However, when children grow up in safe, [16][17][18] stable, 19 and nurturing relationships and environments, they learn empathy, impulse control, anger management, and problem-solving -all skills that protect against interpersonal, self-directed, and collective violence 20 and allow for learning, play, and healthy development. 21,22 Therefore, violence prevention helps generate viable ecologies that lead to economic growth and general well-being.…”