Low Self-control Research Articles

Triarchic psychopathic traits versus self-control: Comparing associations with youth antisocial outcomes.

Psychopathy and low self-control are useful constructs for understanding antisociality/criminality. The triarchic model of psychopathy in particular is a recent and promising conceptualisation, composed of boldness, disinhibition, and meanness - three personality traits that have never been studied in tandem with low self-control. To test relationships between the triarchic personality traits of boldness, disinhibition and meanness and low self-control with delinquent or antisocial acts. In a cross-sectional, self-report study a schools' cohort of 14- to 18-year-olds (Mean 15.91years, SD=0.99years) was recruited from regions in South Portugal and Lisbon, representative of the general population of this age in sex distribution and education. After parental consent, teenage volunteers in small groups completed psychopathy and self-control self-rating scales and then a questionnaire about their criminal or delinquent activities, all on one single occasion and in confidence from school staff or parents. Path analysis was used to test relationships. 567 young people, 256 (45%) of them girls, completed all ratings, 89% of those invited to do so. Low self-control had the strongest relationship with antisocial/criminal acts, followed by the disinhibition or meanness traits of the triarchic psychopathy construct. The boldness trait of the triarchic psychopathy construct had the weakest relationship. Our findings suggest that the most effective targets for intervention to prevent or limit antisocial behaviours by young people are likely to be self-control and disinhibition. Behavioural interventions that improve social skills and verbal problem-solving that encourage listening and waiting in response to environmental stimuli are likely to effect reduction of impulsive and aggressive reactions to others and so reduce conduct problems. Since disinhibition and self-control are such overlapping constructs, improvements in one area will generally facilitate improvements in the other area.

Self-Control, Risky Behavior, and Dating Application-Facilitated Victimization

ABSTRACT The increased connectivity on mobile platforms – including dating applications – is associated with increased risks of victimization both online and in-person. The current study explores the role of dating applications in shaping the risk(s) of victimization. Using a sample of college students (N = 324), we examine the relationship between low self-control and victimization (online and in-person), and the mediating effect of risky behavior, finding that low self-control is associated with in-person victimization, although partially mediated by risky behavior. Low self-control was not a significant predictor for cybervictimization. We also discern gendered effects in both engagement of risky behaviors and experiences of victimization.

Analysing the Relationship Between Immigrant Status and the Severity of Offending Behaviour in Terms of Individual and Contextual Factors.

BackgroundSocial inclusion is a context for both risk and protective factors of migrant youth delinquency. This study aims to shed light on the issue by comparing delinquency amongst native, first-generation, and second-generation immigrant youths in Portugal, a country located in the south of Europe, an area where research in this field is still scarce.MethodsThe research is based on the International Self-Reported Delinquency (ISRD-3) dataset, which includes information on over 4,000 adolescents, who self-reported on their socio-demographic status, leisure activities, school and neighbourhood environment, family bonds, and self-control.ResultsNested Logistic Regression analyses showed that a young first-generation immigrant is twice as likely to commit a crime, with or without violence, as a young native born in Portugal. However, no differences were found regarding the prevalence of delinquency amongst second-generation immigrants and natives, which is likely due to the integration and cultural assimilation of the immigrant over time. Regarding the analysed risk factors, it was found that both structural and individual factors, identified by the theories of control, stress, as well as situational action theory, have a direct effect on the commission of juvenile crimes (both non-violent and violent). Moreover, this effect is significant in adolescents living in Portugal in general, both immigrants and natives. The most influential variable for both types of delinquent behaviour, with and without violence, is peer delinquency, followed by low morality and self-control.ConclusionThese findings have relevant policy implications and are useful for evidence-based interventions aimed at promoting migrant adolescent well-being and targeting host countries’ performance.

Future-oriented motivation impacts intertemporal choice: The modulation of trait self-control

Future-oriented motivation refers to the attitude towards the future consequences of current actions, which has pronounced effects on intertemporal choice by improving self-control resources. However, it remains unknown whether this effect holds consistent among individuals with different levels of trait self-control. To address this issue, the present study compared the intertemporal choices of participants with high versus low trait self-control before and after implementing future-oriented motivation priming. The results demonstrated that future-oriented motivation increased dramatically the tendency to pursue larger delayed rewards in participants with lower self-control, but had no effect on those with high self-control. These results suggest that the effect of future-oriented motivation on intertemporal choice is moderated by individuals' trait self-control, and shed light on the improvement of intertemporal choices in individuals with low-self control.

Adverse childhood experiences, sleep problems, low self-control, and adolescent delinquency: A longitudinal serial mediation analysis.

Several studies link adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to delinquency. Yet, developmental sequalae accounting for this association remain unclear, with previous research limited by cross-sectional research designs and investigations of singular mediating processes. To redress these shortcomings, this study examines the longitudinal association between ACEs and delinquency as mediated by both sleep problems and low self-control, two factors which past research implicates as potentially important for understanding how ACEs contribute to antisocial behavior. Data collected from 480 adolescents (71.3% boys; 86.3% White) and their parents participating in the Michigan Longitudinal Study was used to conduct a serial mediation analysis. The association between ACEs (prior to age 11) and delinquency in late adolescence was found to operate indirectly via sleep problems in early adolescence and low self-control in middle adolescence. Nonetheless, a direct association between ACEs and later delinquency remained. Pathways through which ACEs contribute to later delinquency are complex and multiply determined. Findings indicate that early behavioral interventions, including improving sleep and self-control, could reduce later delinquency. Still, more research is needed to identify additional avenues through which the ACEs-delinquency association unfolds across development.

Genetics, parenting, and family functioning-What drives the development of self-control from adolescence to adulthood?

Self-control is a meaningful predictor of crucial life outcomes. Knowingly, genes contribute substantially to differences in self-control, but behavioral genetic findings are often misinterpreted regarding environmental influences. Therefore, we reinvestigate the heritability of self-control as well as potential environmental influences, namely parenting and a chaotic home environment. We used cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the German twin family study TwinLife (N=3354 individuals), structured in a multicohort design in which 13-, 19-, and 25-year-old twins rated their self-control, parents' behavior, and home environment. Results showed increasing mean levels and 1-year stabilities for self-control accompanied by substantial genetic influences, increasing particularly from ages 19 to 25 (53% to 76%). While chaotic home environments and negative parenting were phenotypically associated with lower self-control, twin difference models revealed that differences in these individually perceived "environments" directly predicted self-control differences (β=-0.16 to -0.28) within families when controlling for genetic and environmental similarities. In addition to the genetic anchoring of self-control, results indicate that environmental factors such as negative family environments are meaningful and depend on individual perceptions within families. Interventions for enhancing self-control should, therefore, rely on individual perspectives rather than objective characteristics of home environments.

The Role of Motivation Systems, Anxiety, and Low Self-Control in Smartphone Addiction among Smartphone-Based Social Networking Service (SNS) Users.

Given that Social Networking Service (SNS) has emerged as the most influential platform, which can lead users to addictive smartphone use, it is necessary to investigate which psychological variables lead smartphone-based SNS users to addictive smartphone use. Still, studies on the relationship between psychological variables and addictive smartphone use among smartphone-based SNS users remain to be explored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of psychological factors on smartphone addiction proneness (SAP). A total of 433 smartphone-based SNS users were collected from 5003 adults in Korea. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and path analysis using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 23.0. The results of a parallel-mediation path analysis demonstrated that Behavioral Inhibition (BIS), Behavioral activation (BAS) drive, anxiety, and low self-control directly influenced SAP, separately. BIS and BAS _drive also had significant indirect effects on SAP through the effect of anxiety. BIS and BAS_fun had significant indirect effects on SAP through the effect of low self-control. The study variables accounted for 38.4 of the total variances of SAP. Thus, when establishing interventions to reduce the users’ addictive smartphone use, these interactive relationships of the variables should be considered.

The connection of dysfunctional breathing with Self-Government styles in the Russian population during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionDysfunctional breathing is experienced as “difficulty in inhaling” and is similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 (Gavriatopoulou et al., 2020), which justifies the relevance of studying this phenomenon in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.ObjectivesTo identifiy a relationship between self-management styles and the severity of dysfunctional breathing in the uninfected COVID-19 population of Russia.MethodsThe author used the socio-demographic questionnaire, the Naimigen Questionnaire (Van Dixhoorn, Duivenvoordent, 1985) and J. Kuhl’s and A. Fuhrman’s Self-Government Test (Kool, Furman, 1998; Kul, Kvirin, Kool, 2020). The study was conducted online from April 27 to December 28, 2020. It was attended by 1,362 people from all regions of Russia (38.3 ±11.4y.o.).ResultsThe components are Self-regulation (r = -0.454, p = 0.000) and Self-Control (r =-0.197, p=0.000). There is also a component of Will Development (r=-0,297, p = 0,000) and Sensitivity to oneself (r=-0,480, p=0,000). It is important to note that dysfunctional breathing has a strong positive correlation with the component of life stress experiencing (=0.335, p=0.000). At the same time, the components of Self-regulation and Self-sensitivity have large correlation coefficients, which indicates their greater role.ConclusionsPeople with low self-regulation and self-control, as well as with less expressed will and sensitivity to themselves, are more likely to have dysfunctional breathing and a more pronounced experience of life stress in a pandemic. The described components can be used as “targets” for individualized psychotherapy of dysfunctional breathing in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was supported of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.DisclosureThe study was carried out with the support of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

Exploring the Relationship between Opportunity and Self-Control in Youth Exposure to and Sharing of Online Hate Content

ABSTRACT The rise of the Internet has dramatically increased the degree to which youth may be exposed to online hate content, and simplified the process of sharing this content with others. Viewing messages that contain hate speech or language vilifying others can increase an individual’s risk of radicalization to extremist views and the acceptance of violent ideologies. Researchers have begun to explore the risk factors for exposure to such content, with prior studies demonstrating a relationship between low self-control and online activities being important correlates. Few studies have utilized youth samples to assess these relationships, or explored the voluntary consumption and sharing of content. This study attempts to address this gap in the literature using self-report responses provided by a sample of 1,193 youths in South Australia. A series of quantitative models are estimated assessing the relationships between self-control, opportunities to view content using both on and off-line measures, and four dependent variables related to exposure to or sharing of hate content. The implications of this analysis for our understanding of the utility of criminological theory to radicalization and countering violent extremism are discussed in detail.

Hedonic Consumption in Times of Stress: Reaping the Emotional Benefits Without the Self-Regulatory Cost.

Hedonic consumption is pleasant but can interfere with the capacity to self-regulate. In stressful moments, when self-regulation is arguably still important, individuals often indulge in hedonic consumption. In two experiments, we investigate whether hedonic consumption negatively affects self-regulation under moderately stressful conditions and whether selecting hedonic consumption under moderately stressful conditions is driven by high or low self-control. In both studies, participants were randomly exposed to a mental arithmetic task that was either completed under time pressure with performance feedback (moderate stress) or without time pressure and without feedback (no stress). Experiment 1 assigned participants to a hedonic (vs. neutral) consumption task and then measured impulse control via a color-word Stroop task. Experiment 2 measured self-control as a second independent variable and recorded hedonic (vs. neutral) consumption. The results show that moderate stress buffered the negative effect that hedonic consumption has on self-regulation under no stress conditions and that high rather than low self-control predicts hedonic over neutral consumption under stress. These findings indicate that hedonic consumption in response to moderate stress may be a strategic choice to reap the pleasure benefit of hedonic consumption while the costs to self-regulation are low.

Screening for dark personalities in Portugal: Intra- and interpersonal correlates, reliability and invariance of the Short Dark Tetrad Portuguese version

ABSTRACT The Dark Tetrad refers to a cluster of four socially aversive and undesirable personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism. The main aim of the present study was to validate the recently developed Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) scale among a sample of young adults (N = 429, M = 22.11 years, SD = 3.35, range = 18–42) from Portugal, composed of men (n = 192, M = 22.14 years, SD = 3.34, range = 18–35) and women (n = 237, M = 22.08 years, SD = 3.35, range = 18–42). Results revealed that the expected four-factor latent structure of the SD4 obtained an adequate fit. The four factors mostly presented positive moderate significant intercorrelations, and adequate to good reliability. The four subscales showed distinctive correlates with other measures (e.g., low self-control, suppression of aggression, anxiety) and variables (e.g., delinquency acts, substance abuse). Strong cross-gender measurement invariance was demonstrated, with men scoring significantly higher than women on the Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Sadism subscales. The current findings support the use of the SD4 in Portuguese.

Psychological predictors and “protectors” of students’ Internet addiction

Introduction. Currently, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the educational environment is forced to “migrate” to a virtual environment, which significantly increases the duration of student youth on the Internet space. In this regard, it has become even more relevant to consider psychological characteristics, which allow a person to remain within the framework of a “healthy” use of the Internet, and, which ones predict the emergence of Internet addiction.The aim of the present research was to identify the psychological properties of a person that contribute to and prevent the emergence of Internet addiction among students in the higher education system.Methodology and research methods. The methodological foundations of the study are the following: the theory of G. Allport, who considers the personality as an open self-developing system; the psychological concept of viability of E. A. Rylskaya; the theory of reflection by A. V. Karpov; a set of reasonable ideas about Internet addiction by A. Yu. Egorov, A. E. Voiskunsky, et al. The methodological foundations made it possible to present the predictors of Internet addiction as factors contributing to the “closure” of the system and inhibiting the personality development, and “protectors” as those psychological variables that protect the individual from the occurrence of Internet addiction, ensuring its openness and freedom of humanbecoming. The sample of the study was 201 people: students of South Ural State University aged 18 to 24 years (X = 21.14; SD = 1.52): 94 women (46.8 %) and 107 men (53.2 %). In the course of the empirical research, a complex of psychodiagnostic methods was used: “Chen Internet Addiction Scale” as adapted by K. A. Feklisov and V. L. Malygin; the Cattell’s Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (form C); the reflexivity questionnaire by A. V. Karpov and the questionnaire “Human vitality” by E. A. Rylskaya. The following methods of mathematical statistics were used: descriptive statistics, discriminant analysis. Calculations were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 17.0.Results. The psychological characteristics of the personality, which act as predictors and “protectors” of Internet addiction, are revealed. The predictors of Internet addiction in students include: emotional instability, low normative behaviour, anxiety, tension, low self-control, indicating the tendency of a person addicted to the Internet to be highly conflicted and irritable, reactive arousal and impulsiveness. Such students are characterised by immaturity of emotions, instability of interests, irresponsibility; dependent on mood, poorly control the manifestation of emotions and their own behaviour; have a weak will. Internet addiction hinders personal development. At the same time, reflexivity and vitality act as “protectors” and perform a protective function in the emergence of Internet addiction, allowing the individual to remain an open self-developing system.Scientific novelty. For the first time, a comprehensive study of predictors and “protectors” of Internet addiction was performed on a sample of students in the context of the idea of a personality as an open self-developing system, which made it possible to present Internet addiction as a phenomenon that negatively affects the personality development. A prognostic model has been empirically verified, which includes a set of psychological variables that “predict” the emergence of Internet addiction in students with a greater or lesser degree of probability.Practical significance. The Internet addiction “prediction” modelling can be applied in counselling practice, when clients are not aware of their addiction or are trying to hide it. The research materials and the conclusions made by the authors can serve as a basis for developing recommendations for the prevention of Internet addiction, and the identified “protectors” (viability and reflexivity) determine the direction of development of correctional and training programmes.

Developing Criminal Propensity? Modeling Developmental Effects of the Code of the Street and Low Self-Control Over Time

The code of the street and low self-control are prominent theories of crime. However, there is no research that examines if these criminogenic dispositions inform each other over time. We utilize the G.R.E.A.T. data to analyze the development of street code adherence and low selfcontrol longitudinally. We find a portion of the stability associated with street code adherence and low self-control to be a product of measurement, as evidenced by correlating error terms across waves. Additionally, we find low self-control to be related to increases in street code adherence especially in later waves and, to a lesser extent, we show effects of street code adherence on subsequent levels of low selfcontrol. We also discuss results from analyses split by race, gender, and neighborhood type. We discuss the theoretical implications of our findings and argue for the development and utility of a broad measure of criminal propensity.

The Importance of Parenting in the Development of Self-control During Childhood, Early Adolescence, and Late Adolescence

The current investigation tested changes in low self-control and the developmental links between parenting and the developmental course of self-control. It was hypothesized that (1) low self-control would change over time (within individual changes); (2) parenting would negatively predict both the intercept and slope of low self-control during childhood; (3) parenting would negatively predict only the intercept during early and late adolescence. Self-report data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) were used, from the (1) first-grade elementary school panel (childhood; N = 2342), (2) the fourth-grade elementary school panel (early adolescence; N = 2378), and the (3) first-grade junior high school panel (late adolescence; N = 2351). Second-order latent growth curve models provided support that low self-control decreased over time. Findings also partially supported hypothesis 2, as parenting negatively predicted the intercept of low self-control, not the slope. Finally, they supported hypothesis 3, as a significant negative parenting effect predicted the low self-control intercept during both early and late adolescence. The current study contributes to research on the link between positive parenting and low self-control development, tested across three distinct developmental periods or age groups and by studying these questions among Korean youth.

Gender-specific co-developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems from middle childhood to early adolescence: Environmental and individual predictors.

This study aimed to identify gender-specific co-developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems from middle childhood to early adolescence, along with key environmental and individual predictors among Chinese youth. A total of 1653 Chinese elementary school students (M age = 9.40; SD = 0.51; 54.57% boys) participated in assessments at six time points, using 6-month assessment intervals. Parallel process latent class growth modeling identified four trajectories for boys: Congruent-low (65.74%), moderate-decreasing internalizing and moderate-stable externalizing problems (18.40%), high increasing-internalizing and low-stable externalizing problems (8.20%), and high decreasing-internalizing and low-stable externalizing problems (7.65%). Three trajectories were identified for girls: Congruent-low (81.09%), moderate co-occurring (7.19%), and high increasing-internalizing and low-stable externalizing problems (11.72%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that peer victimization served as an environmental risk predictor for the adverse co-developmental trajectories of internalizing and externalizing problems for boys and girls. High sensation-seeking and low self-control served as individual risk variables predicting the trajectories of high increasing-internalizing and low-stable externalizing problems, and low self-control also predicted the trajectories of high decreasing-internalizing and low-stable externalizing problems for boys. The findings highlight the importance of gender differences in understanding the progression of internalizing and externalizing problems and inform effective strategies for prevention and intervention.

Factors Associated with Perceived Behavioral Control and Adolescents Smoking Behavior in a Rural Area of Indonesia

Introduction: Smoking behavior among teenagers is now not a taboo issue. Not infrequently we find teenagers who are still wearing school uniforms, smoking with friends or alone, even done openly or in hiding. One of the causes of adolescents’ unable to regulate the intensity of their smoking behavior is their low self-control in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) and Smoking Behavior in Adolescents in Bandarkedungmulyo Village, Jombang. Method: The research design applies correlation analytics through the cross-sectional approach. The study population was 174 male adolescents with a sample of 44 respondents and used the purposive sampling technique. Tools The research instrument is a questionnaire sheet and data analysis of the Chi-Square Test. Results: The results showed that almost all respondents had PBC (High) as many as 33 respondents (75.0%) and had Smoking Behavior (Medium) as many as 27 respondents (61.4%). According to the Chi-Square test results obtained a value of 0.368 > (0.05), then there is no relationship between PBC and smoking behavior in adolescents in Bandarkedungmulyo village Jombang, due to the influence of peers and the informant's social environment. The biggest factor influencing the results of this study is peers who have a major influence on the smoking behavior of a teenager. Conclusion: It is hoped that the research can make changes to smoking behavior and how to fend off the impact of smoking behavior on adolescents in Bandarkedungmulyo Village more optimal so that the physical and mental health of adolescents will be more guaranteed and of good quality.

Bedtime procrastination in the relationship between self-control and depressive symptoms in medical students: From the perspective of sex differences

BackgroundDepressive symptoms typically exhibit sex differences among medical students and are associated with bedtime procrastination (BP) and self-control. However, it remains unclear whether sex differences exist in the relationship between these variables. MethodsA cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 402 medical students from a public university in China. Students’ depressive symptoms, BP, and trait self-control were assessed using the Chinese version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II, the Bedtime Procrastination Scale, and the Self-control Scale, respectively. Applying a BDI cutoff value of 14, 364 valid participants were divided into non-depressed (<14) and depressed (≥14) groups. ResultsBinary logistic regression revealed that BP was an independent predictor of the prevalence of depressive symptoms in women only. Hierarchical regression showed that high BP levels were independently positively correlated to more depressive symptoms only in non-depressed women. In contrast, low self-control levels were independently negatively correlated to more depressive symptoms in non-depressed and depressed female students. Furthermore, structural equation modeling reflected the mediating role of BP between self-control and depressive symptoms in the non-depressed female group only. ConclusionsSex differences exist in the effect of BP on depressive symptoms as well as the relationship between self-control and depressive symptoms among Chinese medical students. As a moderator, sex regulates the mediating effect of BP on the relationship between self-control and depressive symptoms in the non-depressed group. These findings provide a sex-specific perspective for targeted prevention and intervention of depressive symptoms among high-risk medical students, especially during the non-depressed period.

Факторный анализ индивидуально-личностных характеристик лиц группы аддиктивного риска

This article deals with the problem of early diagnosis of the use of psychoactive substances in the child and adolescent environment, as well as the study of individual and personal characteristics of individuals at addictive risk. On the basis of the conducted research, the authors carried out a factor analysis of the personal characteristics of individuals of the addictive risk group, based on the use of the psychodiagnostic questionnaire PDO «Narcorisk» (Syrkin et al., 2016) together with a teenage version of the 16-factor Ketell questionnaire and a standardized multifactor method modified for adolescents personality studies (SMIL L. Sobchik). It is assumed that there are correlations between the risk profiles of persons prone to the use of psychoactive substances and their individual and personal characteristics, consideration of which makes it possible to personalize preventive work. The authors note that the factor analysis of the obtained results makes it possible to identify characteristic features of the studied personality profiles. Thus, the abusive personality profile is characterized by: openness, subordination, credulity, conformity, pessimism and anxiety, as well as disorganization and lack of individuality. The hedonistic personality profile correlated with such indicators as openness, emotional stability, courage, tension, impulsivity, individuality, optimism, impracticality and insubordination. The antisocial personality profile is characterized by emotional instability, insubordination, intemperance, rigidity, straightforwardness, anxiety, tension, low self-control, impulsivity, rigidity and social introversion. The conformal personality profile is characterized by: subordination, credulity, practicality, anxiety, conservatism, conformity, self-control, tension, neurotic overcontrol, pessimism and rigidity. The cognitive-destructive personality profile is represented by such characteristics as: reduced intelligence, subordination, conformity and rigidity.&#x0D; The results obtained allow practitioners in the field of psychology and pedagogy of dependent behavior to better understand the nature of the formation of the risk profile of adolescents prone to the use of psychoactive substances, provide them with targeted preventive care, develop and adjust the content of preventive measures, predict behavioral strategies, build an individual preventive route taking into account their individual and personal characteristics.

Recurring Victimization and Same-Sex Attraction.

People who identify as same-sex attracted (SSA) face significantly greater risk for victimization than their non-SSA counterparts. However, little distinction is made between single versus recurring victimization among the SSA population. There are no national prevalence estimates, and we do not know the extent to which disproportionate risk of victimization among SSA populations applies to recurring victimization versus single occurrences. We analyze data from 483 survey respondents who reported same-sex attraction and 8544 respondents who do not report SSA. The current study utilizes a nationally representative sample to estimate the prevalence of single and recurring victimization among SSA populations, and compare these estimates with those found in the non-SSA population. We further investigate some possible mediating processes that may explain differences between these groups in risk for recurring victimization, drawing upon lifestyles, self-control, and minority stress frameworks. Findings indicate that SSA groups have significantly greater risk for both single and recurring physical assault victimization. Much of the disproportionate recurring victimization risk can be explained by differences in both risky lifestyles and low self-control, as well as minority stress. Recurring victimization is an important problem for SSA individuals. Prevention efforts may focus on school contexts, including the addition of Gay-Straight alliances, creating supporting peer groups, and providing supportive adult role models.

The development of early onset, chronic, and versatile offending: The role of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and mediating factors

IntroductionIt has been hypothesized that there are at least five pathways to adolescent serious and violent offending (SVOs), which include a prenatal risk factor pathway, a personality disorder pathway, an extreme child temperament pathway, a childhood maltreatment pathway, and an adolescent-onset pathway (1). These distinctive pathways have several important criminal justice system policy and public health implications. For the former, one of the most fundamental challenges has been devising and implementing effective intervention policies/programs to reduce recidivism. As well, SVOs frequently have been a major public health concern because their developmental pathways to offending, not uncommonly, are characterized by several physical and mental health risk factors, which also negatively affect their general social functioning. These risk factors include substance abuse, different forms of abuse including physical, sexual, and neglect, family poverty and disruption, and mental health disorders. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is one mental health disorder that is so strongly over-represented among offender populations that it has been hypothesized to represent the SVO prenatal risk facto pathway (1). Like other pervasive developmental disorders, FASD is a complicated phenomenon; however, its etiology is less controversial because it is directly caused by the toxic effects of ethanol concentrations in alcohol on the development of the fetal brain. Frequent consumption of higher amounts of alcohol or binge drinking during the second trimester of pregnancy are two ways in which the likelihood of FASD is increased. Given that FASD too is a spectral disorder, its developmental impact on SVOs is very likely varied and mediated by other risk and protective factors.In Canada and other countries with substantial Aboriginal and First Nations populations (e.g., Australia and New Zealand), FASD is a fundamental health and mental health policy issue (2). Although FASD is not easily diagnosable, primarily because current tests are time consuming and costly, FASD has been reported to be disproportionately present among Aboriginal youth in both Canada (2) and Australia (3). Another policy theme is that FASD has likely been under-diagnosed for a variety of reasons but primarily because of resource limitations. It is difficult to obtain and validate prevalence estimates across different countries; yet few health officials in countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States deny that FASD is a critical public health concern, generally, and for youth and adult criminal justice systems, in particular.In this study, a sample of incarcerated adolescent offenders (n = 514) were asked whether they had been told they had been diagnosed with FASD. File data also was utilized to assess or support the FASD assertion, though, this data too was subject to incomplete reporting. Additional criminogenic risk factors, including abuse, substance use, placement in foster care, and low self-control, were included to examine whether these factors mediated the relationship between FASD and different criminal offending outcome measures. As well, both criminal justice and public health systems' FASD-related costs were considered.Outcomes associated with FASDFASD has been causally related to neuro-cognitive deficits involving executive functioning, behavioral regulation problems, learning, and other mental and physical health problems (4,5). Nonetheless, the prevalence of FASD diagnoses in general populations has been estimated to be very low. Sampson et al. (6), for example, estimated that less than 1% of live births were afflicted with some form of alcohol-related neuro-developmental disorder. In effect, FASD does not appear to be a pervasive social/health issue. However, in countries such as Canada, the prevalence of FASD within certain criminogenic sub-populations (e.g., youth on probation) has been estimated to be as high as 30% (7), and similarly high among youth in forensic inpatient centers (8). …