Examining Antisocial Behavioral Antecedents of Juvenile Sexual Offenders and Juvenile Non-Sexual Offenders

Abstract

In prospective longitudinal studies of juvenile offenders, the presence of multiple developmental pathways of antisocial behaviors has consistently been identified. An "antisocial" type of juvenile sex offender (JSO) has also been identified; however, whether antisocial JSOs follow different antisocial pathways has not been examined. In the current study, differences in antisocial pathways within JSOs and between JSOs and juvenile non-sex offenders (JNSOs) were examined. Data on Canadian male incarcerated adolescent offenders were used to identify whether behavioral antecedents differed within JSOs and between JSOs (n = 51) and JNSOs (n = 94). Using latent class analysis (LCA), three behavioral groups were identified. For both JSOs and JNSOs, there was a Low Antisocial, Overt, and Covert group. Overall, there were important within-group differences in the behavioral patterns of JSOs, but these differences resembled differences in the behavioral patterns of their JNSO counterpart. Risk factors including offense history, abuse history, and family history were more strongly associated with the Overt and Covert groups compared with the Low Antisocial group. Implications for JSO assessment practices were discussed.

Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong

“…Hypothesis 3 : Compared with students without economic disadvantage, students from families with a poor socioeconomic background would be more likely to be involved in CD/JP behaviors (C.S.O.A.C.Y., 1984 ). Hypothesis 5 : Perceived family functioning (mutuality, harmony, and good communication within the family) in Wave 2 would be negatively related to CD/JP behaviors (McCuish, Lussier, & Corrado, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ). Hypothesis 5 : Perceived family functioning (mutuality, harmony, and good communication within the family) in Wave 2 would be negatively related to CD/JP behaviors (McCuish, Lussier, & Corrado, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ).…”

“…Hypothesis 7 : Academic and school competence in Wave 2 would be negatively related to CD/JP behaviors (Lee & Shek, 2013 ). Hypothesis 10 : The higher paternal control (paternal knowledge, paternal expectation, paternal monitoring, satisfaction with paternal control, paternal psychological control) in Wave 2, the less likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (McCuish et al, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ). Hypothesis 9 : The greater the age differences between the parents, the more likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (Brannigan & Van Brunschot, 1997 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ;Van Brunschot & Brannigan, 1992 ).…”

“…Hypothesis 8 : Students who were engaged in CD/JP behaviors in Wave 2 would be more likely to engage in these behaviors in Wave 3 (McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ). Hypothesis 11 : The higher the maternal control (maternal knowledge, maternal expectation, maternal monitoring, satisfaction with maternal control, maternal psychological control) in Wave 2, the less likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (McCuish et al, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ). Hypothesis 10 : The higher paternal control (paternal knowledge, paternal expectation, paternal monitoring, satisfaction with paternal control, paternal psychological control) in Wave 2, the less likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (McCuish et al, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ).…”

“…Hypothesis 9 : The greater the age differences between the parents, the more likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (Brannigan & Van Brunschot, 1997 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ;Van Brunschot & Brannigan, 1992 ). Hypothesis 12 : The better the father-child relationship in Wave 2, the less likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (McCuish et al, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ). Hypothesis 11 : The higher the maternal control (maternal knowledge, maternal expectation, maternal monitoring, satisfaction with maternal control, maternal psychological control) in Wave 2, the less likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (McCuish et al, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ).…”

“…Hypothesis 10 : The higher paternal control (paternal knowledge, paternal expectation, paternal monitoring, satisfaction with paternal control, paternal psychological control) in Wave 2, the less likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (McCuish et al, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ). Hypothesis 13 : The better the mother-child relationship in Wave 2, the less likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (McCuish et al, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ). Hypothesis 12 : The better the father-child relationship in Wave 2, the less likely the students would be engaged in CD/JP behaviors (McCuish et al, 2014 ;McNamara & Bucher, 2012 ).…”