Date of Graduation

2012

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Research indicates that individuals who perpetuate abuse may also have a history of experiencing abuse (Ford & Linney, 1995; Worling, 1995). Yet, not all abused children will engage in offending behavior (Becker & Hunter, 1997). This study investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), caregiver instability, and low social support, and how these factors relate to offending behavior. Participants were 32 juveniles with sexual offenses (SO), 40 juveniles with violent nonsexual offenses (VO), and 18 juveniles with nonsexual nonviolent offenses (NSVO) detained at the West Virginia Home for Youth in Salem, WV. The participants reported directly experiencing and witnessing a mean of 10.3 (SD = 2.6, range = 5-16) potentially traumatic events as reported on the Life Events Checklist. The SO Group participants were significantly more likely to report directly experiencing (71.9%, n = 23) and witnessing (31.3%, n = 10) sexual victimization compared to participants in the VO and NSVO Groups. Using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents, a total of 71.9% (n = 23) of SO participants met criteria for a current PTSD diagnosis, and 90.6% (n = 29) met lifetime criteria for PTSD. For the VO and NSVO Groups, respectively, 67.5% (n = 27) and 77.8% ( n = 14) met current PTSD criteria and 75% (n = 30) and 88.9% (n = 16) met lifetime PTSD criteria. File data indicated 51.1% (n = 46) of participants had a parent who experienced legal problems, and 75.6% (n = 68) had an absent biological father. These results provide evidence for a relation between offending, trauma, caregiver instability, and PTSD in a sample of incarcerated juveniles, and highlight the importance of trauma-informed interventions.

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