Abstract
Childhood abuse experiences appear prevalent in institutionalized children and youth, but research to date has been limited. Moreover, there is no published study that has examined the issue of childhood abuse and delinquency within institutionalized children and youth in Singapore. This study was cross-sectional in design with follow-up criminal record checks. Data were collected from multiple data sources including official records, structured clinical interviews, and self-report questionnaires on 79 adolescent female residential youth. Two thirds reported having experienced childhood abuse and a higher proportion reported having previously engaged in self-harming behaviours. Participants with multiple types of abuse reported being abused at a younger age, were more likely to be subjected to repeated physical abuse, to have overdosed on medication, and to have reported more health and sexual concerns and trauma symptomatology than those who reported either experiencing one or no previous types of abuse. Fourteen (18%) of the sample had been convicted of further criminal offences over a 6½-year follow-up. The adolescents with histories of multiple types of abuse in childhood presented with more health concerns and traumatic symptomatology, self-reported delinquency, as well as past self-harming behaviour during their institutional stay. Identification of these additionally vulnerable adolescents has important clinical implications for identification, assessment and intervention planning.
Highlights
Childhood abuse experiences appear prevalent in institutionalized children and youth, but research to date has been limited
Studies have found that multiple types of victimization are associated with more severe abuse and trauma symptomatology (Clemmons, Walsh, DiLillo, and Messman-Moore, 2007; Finkelhor et al, 2007a), more delinquent behaviours (Arata, LanghinrichsenRohling, Bowers, and O’Farrill-Swails, 2005), and poorer psychosocial adjustment and outcomes (Clemmons, DiLillo, Martinez, DeGue, and Jeffcott, 2003)
Other studies have shown that mood disorders, anxiety, anger, sexual concerns, behavioural concerns, substance use, and post-traumatic stress symptoms are common among institutionalized children and youth who have been abused (Brady and Caraway, 2002; Hibbard, Spence, Tzeng, Zollinger, and Orr, 1992; Weine et al, 1997)
Summary
Childhood abuse experiences appear prevalent in institutionalized children and youth, but research to date has been limited. The adolescents with histories of multiple types of abuse in childhood presented with more health concerns and traumatic symptomatology, self-reported delinquency, as well as past self-harming behaviour during their institutional stay. Identification of these vulnerable adolescents has important clinical implications for identification, assessment and intervention planning. In a longitudinal study of institutionalized adolescent boys, Zeiller (1982) reported that physically and psychologically abused youth were three times more aggressive than their notabused peers, and twice as likely to subsequently engage in some form of delinquent behaviour. To date there has been only limited research on childhood abuse and delinquency in institutionalized children and youth, and currently none within the
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
