Linking Childhood and Adult Criminality: Using a Life Course Framework to Examine Childhood Abuse and Neglect, Substance Use and Adult Partner Violence

Abstract

Child abuse and neglect, considered criminal acts under the Criminal Code of Canada, play an important role in substance use, violence, and other criminal behaviour in adulthood. We adopted the life course perspective to identify modifiable contextual influences and co-occurring individual, social, and familial determinants associated with adult criminality. Using in-depth interview data, a sub-sample of 13 women who had recently experienced intimate partner violence, recounted their experiences of childhood abuse, their own substance use or criminality, as well as implications of these factors on their children’s life trajectories. For the purposes of this paper criminality was defined as child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, illegal substance use and underage alcohol use. Our objective was to explore, in our data: (1) patterns and trajectories of criminality from childhood to adulthood among women who were victims of violence, and (2) cumulative effects of early life exposures on experiences of criminality; with the aim of describing the life course perspective as a useful framework to understand criminality along the life trajectory. The analysis was not designed to demonstrate causal connections between early childhood and adulthood experiences of criminality. Rather we generated qualitative and quantitative hypotheses to guide future research in the field. Implications for research and interventions are discussed.

Early childhood maltreatment experience and later sexual behavior in Brazilian adults undergoing treatment for substance dependence

“…These findings suggest that child abuse increases the likelihood of substance use and doubles the incidence of psychopathological comorbidity 10. It also seems to be associated with earlier drug use initiation11-13 and may play a significant role in the development and severity of dependence on alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs, through an internalizing pathway involving negative effects 14-16…”

Establishing stability: exploring the meaning of ‘home’ for women who have experienced intimate partner violence

“…The data in this paper came from a larger qualitative study designed to explore the relationship between housing instability and health among women who had recently experienced low-income and IPV (see Daoud et al 2016 ; Matheson et al 2015 ; Minh et al 2013 ; O'Campo et al 2015 ; Velonis et al 2015 ). In this larger study, we asked women to define stable housing using their own words.…”

Where Did She Go? The Transformation of Self-Esteem, Self-Identity, and Mental Well-Being among Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence

“…Women may turn to drugs or heavy drinking as ways to cope with abuse and mental health issues and escape from the harsh reality of partner violence (Campbell, 2002;El-Bassel, Gilbert, Wu, Go, & Hill, 2005;Martino, Collins, & Ellickson, 2005). Women with mental health and substance use problems, as well as those who have experienced childhood abuse, may also be more prone to experiencing IPV in their adult life (Ehrensaft et al, 2003;Minh et al, 2013;Renner & Slack, 2006;Riggs, Caulfield, & Street, 2000).…”