Risk factors for legal involvement among a nationally representative sample of Hispanic adolescents

Abstract

Adolescent legal involvement is a public health concern nationwide. Despite the existing national limits of arrest data by Hispanic origin, previous research has found that minority youth are at increased risk for being confined. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether sex, age, authoritarian parenting, school experiences, depression, recent alcohol use, binge drinking and perceived social norms predicted legal involvement among Hispanic adolescents aged 12-17 years old nationwide. Legal involvement was operationally defined as ever being arrested, on parole or on probation. A secondary data analysis of the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was conducted including a total of 3,457 U.S. Hispanic adolescents. First, unadjusted odds ratios were computed by conducting a univariate logistic regression analyses. Then, all variables that were significant in the univariate logistic regression analyses were retained and included in a final multiple logistic regression model. A total of 7.6% of Hispanic adolescents reported legal involvement. Unadjusted odds ratios indicated that sex, age, authoritarian parenting, school experiences, depression, recent alcohol use, binge drinking and perceived student use of alcohol were statistically significant predictors of legal involvement. All variables were subsequently retained and included in the final multiple regression models. The final multiple regression model significantly predicted legal involvement. Specifically, results indicated Hispanic adolescents at increased risk for legal involvement were males, aged 16-17 years, experienced authoritarian parenting, had negative school experiences and recently used alcohol. The combined influence of predictors on legal involvement for Hispanic adolescents was explored. Based on study findings, intervention programs should target all Hispanic youth, especially males and aged 14-17 years, to effectively address this problematic behaviour. Families, schools, communities and juvenile justice systems should work together to decrease illegal involvement among Hispanic adolescents. ARTICLE HISTORY

The Association Between Sleep Duration and Arrest Among Adolescents

“…However, ineffective parenting (e.g., authoritarian, inconsistent, etc.) and parental arrest have been associated with an increase in likelihood of arrest among juveniles (e.g., Vidourek et al, 2016; but see also Sittner & Gentzler, 2016).…”

The father’s role in risk and resilience among Mexican-American adolescents.

“…Parental hostility, or fighting, arguing with, and criticizing one’s child, is one manifestation of authoritarian parenting (Baumrind, 1966). Several studies of Latino families found that authoritarian parenting was associated with negative consequences for youth including mental health issues, academic problems, and delinquency (Calzada et al, 2015; Calzada, Huang, Anicama, Fernandez, & Brotman, 2012; Kim et al, 2018; Vidourek, King, Merianos, & Bartsch, 2016). Paternal hostility, specifically, has been found to predict teacher-reported child externalizing problems (Carrère & Bowie, 2012) and child adjustment problems (Parke et al, 2004).…”

Ecological systems in relation to Latinx youth in the juvenile justice system: A narrative literature review

“…We explored the youth's individual emotional/behavioral health functioning and how relationships with their immediate contexts (e.g., family, peers) are associated. The search resulted in five articles of relevance, which highlight several important factors, including differences in behavioral risk by individual factors (i.e., gender, race/ethnic identity) and the predictive effects of JJS involvement, family composition, parenting styles, and school experiences (Winkelman et al, 2017;Teplin, Abram, McClelland, Dulcan, & Mericle, 2002;Johnston et al, 2016;Caldwell, Silver, & Strada, 2010;Vidourek, King, Merianos, & Bartsch, 2016).…”

“…However, family composition was a stronger predictor of self-esteem, showing a positive effect for Latinx youth in JJS detainment. Vidourek et al (2016) examined indicators for legal involvement among a nationally representative sample of Latinx adolescents in a cross-sectional study. Within Vidourek et al's study, the family and school microsystems are reflected in the parenting style and school experiences variables.…”