Childhood abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and juvenile recidivism: The mediating role of social bonds

Abstract

PurposeThough prior research has found a connection between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and offending, only a few studies have investigated potential mediators that may help explain these effects. The current study builds upon childhood abuse research that has found social bonds to be a mediator between childhood maltreatment and offending and examines the extent to which social bonds represent an intervening variable between ACEs and recidivism.Methods: Using a sample of first-time adjudicated youth and an expanded measure of social bonds, a structural equation modeling (SEM) path analysis of the ACEs → social bonds → juvenile recidivism relationship was conducted. ResultsThe models revealed partial support for mediation- the indirect effect of ACEs on recidivism via social bonds was marginally significant. Further, it was found that 32% of the total effect of ACEs on recidivism operated through a youth's social bonds. ConclusionsThese findings highlight one potential mechanism of the ACE-offending relationship and further implications of this indirect relationship are discussed.