TY - JOUR
T1 - Childhood traumatic experiences and mental health problems in sexually offending and non-sexually offending juveniles
AU - Boonmann, Cyril
AU - Grisso, Thomas
AU - Guy, Laura S.
AU - Colins, Olivier F.
AU - Mulder, Eva A.
AU - Vahl, P.
AU - Jansen, Lucres M.C.
AU - Doreleijers, Theo A.H.
AU - Vermeiren, Robert R.J.M.
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - Objective: To examine the relationship between a history of childhood abuse and mental health problems in juveniles who sexually offended (JSOs) over and above general offending behavior. Methods: A sample of 44 JSOs incarcerated in two juvenile detention centers in the Netherlands between May 2008 and March 2014 were examined for childhood abuse history (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form) and mental health problems (Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version 2). Furthermore, the connection between childhood abuse and mental health problems in JSOs was compared to a sample of 44 propensity score matched juveniles who offended non-sexually (non-JSOs). Results: In JSOs, sexual abuse was related to anger problems, suicidal ideation, and thought disturbance. These associations were significantly stronger in JSOs than in non-JSOs. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the relationship between childhood abuse and both internalizing and externalizing mental health problems is of more salience for understanding sexual offending than non-sexual offending, and should, therefore, be an important focus in the assessment and treatment of JSOs.
AB - Objective: To examine the relationship between a history of childhood abuse and mental health problems in juveniles who sexually offended (JSOs) over and above general offending behavior. Methods: A sample of 44 JSOs incarcerated in two juvenile detention centers in the Netherlands between May 2008 and March 2014 were examined for childhood abuse history (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form) and mental health problems (Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version 2). Furthermore, the connection between childhood abuse and mental health problems in JSOs was compared to a sample of 44 propensity score matched juveniles who offended non-sexually (non-JSOs). Results: In JSOs, sexual abuse was related to anger problems, suicidal ideation, and thought disturbance. These associations were significantly stronger in JSOs than in non-JSOs. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the relationship between childhood abuse and both internalizing and externalizing mental health problems is of more salience for understanding sexual offending than non-sexual offending, and should, therefore, be an important focus in the assessment and treatment of JSOs.
KW - Childhood sexual abuse
KW - MAYSI-2
KW - Mental health problems
KW - Sexual offending juveniles
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84994545418&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-016-0127-2
DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-016-0127-2
M3 - Article
SN - 1753-2000
VL - 10
JO - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
JF - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
IS - 1
M1 - 45
ER -