Social Correlates of Delinquency for Youth in Need of Mental Health Services: Examining the Scope Conditions of Criminological Theories

Abstract

While both traditional criminological inquiry and mental health research have identified internal and external constellations of risk factors associated with juvenile offending, interdisciplinary discourse has been limited. This paper takes a step in bridging the gap between criminological literature and work in the field of children's mental health by evaluating the combined effects of social and mental health predictors on juvenile delinquency in a sample of youth with diagnosed clinical disorders. Results of multivariate analyses indicate that both traditional social risk factors as well as indicators of the nature and severity of youths' mental health disorders contribute to delinquency. Moreover, the influence of one well-established risk factor, self-control, on delinquency is moderated by the presence of oppositional defiant disorder. The results of this study suggest that researchers and practitioners should consider the cumulative influence of social risk factors and psychological impairment in the etiology of delinquency.

Mental health symptoms and delinquency among court-involved youth referred for treatment

“…This study found that anxiety disorder and oppositional defiant disorder both predict self-reported breadth of delinquency (i.e., number of types of delinquent acts). 15 Another study, examining the relationship between psychiatric diagnosis and likelihood of being placed in juvenile detention over the next year, reported that dual diagnosis is associated with a sixfold increase in detention placement. 16 More research with youth identified as in need of mental health treatment can explore nuances of the relationships between mental health symptoms and delinquency by ensuring a sample with meaningful mental health needs.…”

Psychosocial correlates of recidivism in a sample of ex-prisoners: the role of oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder

“…Like CD, ODD is more prevalent among males than females as is most often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence (Maughan, Rowe, Messer, Goodman & Meltzer, 2004). Youth diagnosed with ODD report significantly higher levels of delinquency compared to those with other mental health disorders (Vogel & Messner, 2012). Importantly, the influence of ODD on criminal behaviour and recidivism has been suggested to be sex-specific, with ODD predicative of recidivism in boys but not girls (Plattner, Steiner, The, et al, 2009).…”

<p>Reconceptualizing attrition in Parent–Child Interaction Therapy: “dropouts” demonstrate impressive improvements</p>

“…For example, young children with behavior disorders are more likely to experience physical and emotional abuse, peer rejection, academic difficulties, and other mental health problems (eg, depression, anxiety) 1–3. Later in life, those who suffered from behavior disorders in childhood are more likely to engage in physical violence, delinquency, and substance abuse,4–6 and to suffer from other mental health problems (eg, personality disorders, depression) 7,8…”