Emotional Psychological and Related Problems Among Truant Youths

Abstract

Latent class analysis was conducted on the psychosocial problems experienced by truant youths. Data were obtained from baseline interviews completed on 131 youths and their parents/guardians involved in a NIDA-funded, Brief Intervention Project. Results identified two classes of youths: Class 1(n=94): youths with low levels of delinquency, mental health and substance abuse issues, Class 2(n=37): youths with high levels of these problems. Comparison of these two classes on their urine analysis test results and parent/guardian reports of traumatic events found significant (p<.05) differences between them that were consistent with their problem group classification. Our results have important implications for research and practice.

A Longitudinal Study of Truant Youths' Involvement in Sexual Risk Behavior

“…In addition to truant youth having problems in school, they frequently experience troubled family situations, and psychosocial difficulties, including drug use (Dembo & Turner, 1994). The limited number of available studies involving selected samples of truant youths indicate they often experience serious interrelated problems in regard to a stressed family life (Baker et al, 2001; Kearney & Silverman, 1995), alcohol and other drug use (Baker et al, 2001; Dembo & Turner, 1994; Diebolt & Herlache, 1991; Pritchard, Cotton & Cox, 1992; Maynard et al, 2012), emotional and psychological functioning (Diebolt & Herlache, 1991; Dembo et al, 2012a; Dembo et al, 2012b, Egger, Costello, & Angold, 2003; Kearney & Silverman, 1995), delinquent behavior (Dembo et al, 2013; Maynard et al, 2012), and poor educational functioning (e.g., low grades, grade retention or placement in remedial or special programs) (Dembo & Turner, 1994; Garry, 1996; Ingersoll & LeBoeuf, 1997). Research also suggests that truant youth are at considerable risk of continuing their troubled behavior in school and entering the juvenile justice system (Dembo et al, in press b; Garry, 1996; Ingersoll & LeBoeuf, 1997; Loeber & Farrington, 2000; Puzzanchera, Stahl, Finnegan, Tierney, & Snyder, 2003; also see: Henry, Thornberry, & Huizinga, 2009).…”

Brief Intervention for Truant Youth Sexual Risk Behavior and Marijuana Use

“…Project services were provided in-home, were free, and participation was voluntary. A discussion of the enrollment process appears in Dembo, Briones et al (in press).…”

“…In addition to truant youth having problems in school, they frequently experience troubled family situations, failing grades, and psychosocial difficulties including drug use (Dembo & Turner, 1994). The limited number of available studies involving selected samples of truant youths indicate they often experience serious interrelated problems in regard to a stressed family life (Baker et al, 2001; Kearney & Silverman, 1995), alcohol and other drug use (Baker et al, 2001; Dembo & Turner, 1994; Diebolt & Herlache, 1991; Pritchard, Cotton & Cox, 1992), emotional and psychological functioning (Diebolt & Herlache, 1991; Dembo, Briones-Robinson et al, in press; Egger, Costello, & Angold, 2003; Kearney & Silverman, 1995), and poor educational functioning (e.g., low grades, grade retention or placement in remedial or special programs) (Dembo & Turner, 1994; Garry, 1996; Ingersoll & LeBoeuf, 1997). Research also suggests that truant youths are at considerable risk of continuing their troubled behavior in school and entering the juvenile justice system (Garry, 1996; Ingersoll & LeBoeuf, 1997; Loeber & Farrington, 2000; Puzzanchera, Stahl, Finnegan, Tierney, & Snyder, 2003; also see: Henry, Thornberry, & Huizinga, 2009).…”

Longitudinal Effects of a Second-Order Multi-Problem Factor of Sexual Risk, Marijuana Use, and Delinquency on Future Arrest Among Truant Youths

“…Truancy is associated with a variety of negative behaviors. Truancy has been associated with difficulties in school and academic achievement (e.g., Bridgeland, Dilulio, & Morison, 2006; Caldas, 1993; Lamdin, 1996), difficulties with family and personal relationships (Baker, Sigmon, & Nugent, 2001; Kearney & Silverman, 1995), emotional and psychological issues (e.g., Dembo et al, 2012; Diebolt & Herlache, 1991; Egger, Costello & Angold, 2003), alcohol and illicit substance use (e.g., Barry, Chaney, & Chaney, 2011; Flaherty, Sutphen, & Ely, 2012; Henry, 2010; Henry, Knight, & Thornberry, 2012; Maynard, Salas-Wright, Vaughn, & Peters, 2012), and juvenile delinquency and crime (e.g., Baker et al, 2001; Catalano, Arthur, Hawkins, Berglund, & Olson, 1998; Gonzales, Richards, & Seeley, 2002; Henry et al, 2012; Li et al, 2011; Onifade, Nyandoro, Davidson, & Campbell, 2010; Schroeder, Chaisson, & Pogue, 2004). The nature of the associations between truancy and the aforementioned negative behaviors, however, is unclear.…”