Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate what factors are predictive of behavioural and emotional dysfunction in adolescence. A sample of 60 young people accommodated under a welfare or youth custody service order in a UK secure children’s home between 2016 and 2018 was used. Data regarding young people’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) history, scores on standard assessments and factors thought to indicate behavioural and emotional dysfunction were collected from file information. Correlations and regression models were used to analyse the data. Analyses found that young people in this setting had been exposed to more ACEs than the general population. Furthermore, signs of behavioural and emotional dysfunction as a result of exposure to ACE’s appeared to be present from early adolescence. It was found that exposure to verbal and sexual abuse were the greatest predictors of involvement in risk incidents. The young person’s substance misuse habits were the best predictor of the length of stay in the secure children’s home. These findings may have policy implications and highlight the need for early interventions with young people exposed to ACE’s.
Highlights
The aim of the present study was to investigate what factors are predictive of behavioural and emotional dysfunction in adolescence
During the original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, Felitti et al (1998) identified 10 categories of ACEs. These ACEs were defined as incidents of physical, sexual or verbal abuse, physical and emotional neglect, witnessing domestic violence, living with an adult with substance misuse issues or mental health problems, living in a household where parents have separated and having a member of the household incarcerated as a child
Due to the nature of the secure children’s home and the differing lengths of sentences given to the young people, some data was missing
Summary
The aim of the present study was to investigate what factors are predictive of behavioural and emotional dysfunction in adolescence. It was found that the risk of early onset of sexual behaviours, including intercourse, increased amongst women with elevated numbers of adverse experiences, with 31% of women with 6–7 ACEs reporting engagement in sexual activity from a young age, compared to 4% of woman with no ACEs. It was suggested that as a result of being exposed to adverse experiences during their childhood, the young people had grown up in families that were unable to provide them with protection and secure relationships, and the risky sexual behaviours may have symbolised an attempt to fulfil a need for intimate personal connections. It was suggested that as a result of being exposed to adverse experiences during their childhood, the young people had grown up in families that were unable to provide them with protection and secure relationships, and the risky sexual behaviours may have symbolised an attempt to fulfil a need for intimate personal connections. Due to Hillis et al.’s (2001) participants having both been exposed to adverse experiences and engaging in risky sexual behaviours during adolescence, it is not clear whether exposure to ACEs always preceded, rather than followed, these risky behaviours
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
