Differences in attachment dimensions and reflective functioning between traumatized juvenile offenders and maltreated non-delinquent adolescents from care services

Adverse childhood experiences, especially maltreatment, are regarded as significant risk factors for the development of antisocial behavior in adolescence. However, possible correlates are still to be investigated after considering the history of criminal records and the experience of institutionali...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child abuse & neglect 2020-05, Vol.103, p.104420-9, Article 104420
Main Authors: Protic, Sonja, Wittmann, Lutz, Taubner, Svenja, Dimitrijevic, Aleksandar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Adverse childhood experiences
Antisocial behavior
Anxiety
Attachment
Avoidance behavior
Child abuse & neglect
Child development
Childhood experiences
Childhood factors
Criminal records
Delinquency
Deviance
Domestic violence
Female offenders
Females
Gender
Gender differences
History
Idealization
Institutionalization
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile offenders
Juvenile offending
Males
Measures
Men
Prisoners
Reflective functioning
Risk factors
Social development
Teenagers
Trauma
Traumatic incidents
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Summary:Adverse childhood experiences, especially maltreatment, are regarded as significant risk factors for the development of antisocial behavior in adolescence. However, possible correlates are still to be investigated after considering the history of criminal records and the experience of institutionalization. In this study, differences in attachment anxiety and avoidance, and reflective functioning (RF) between traumatized incarcerated juvenile offenders and non-delinquent adolescents institutionalized in child services because of domestic violence were examined. Forty-two juvenile offenders (Nfemale = 19) and 43 inmates of institutions for adolescents without parental care (Nfemale = 20) with the history of trauma filled in the childhood trauma and attachment dimensions questionnaires, and were scored on the Reflective Functioning Scale. Groups were matched on age and education. Results indicate that both groups reported equally high levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance. Male juvenile offenders had lower scores on reflective functioning than both female convicted minors (B = 1.06; Odds Ratio = 2.88; Nagelkerkes R2 = 45) and non-delinquent adolescents of both genders (B = −.65; Odds Ratio = .52; Nagelkerkes R2 = 42). In comparison to non-convicted males, male offenders also had higher scores on the control scale of idealization (B = .35; Odds Ratio = 1.42; Nagelkerkes R2 = 42). No differences between females with and without a history of crimes were found. Results indicate a need for building RF in both traumatized samples, especially in male delinquents, and encourage further research in females.
ISSN:0145-2134
1873-7757
DOI:10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104420