Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2013.54.460
Delinquency in incarcerated male adolescents is associated with single parenthood, exposure to more violence at home and in the community, and poorer self-image
Stanislava Erdelja
; Center for social welfare, Donja Stubica, Croatia
Petra Vokal
; Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Clinical Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Bolfan
; Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Clinical Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Sergej Augustin Erdelja
; Center for social welfare, Krapina, Croatia
Branka Begovac
; Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Clinical Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Begovac
; Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Clinical Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To assess the relationships between delinquency and
demographic and family variables, academic performance,
war stressors, home/community, school, and media violence
exposure, self-image, and psychopathology.
Methods This cross-sectional study included 100 delinquent,
incarcerated male adolescents and 100 matched
schoolchildren from Croatia. It lasted from January 2008
to June 2009, and used socio-demographic questionnaire,
questionnaire on children’s stressful and traumatic war experiences,
exposure to violence scale, the Offer Self-Image
Questionnaire, and Youth Self-Report Questionnaire.
Results Logistic regression analysis showed that delinquency
in incarcerated adolescents was more likely related
to having parents who did not live together (odds ratio
[OR] 2.40; confidence interval [CI] 1.18-4.90, P = 0.015),
being more exposed to violence at home/community (OR
3.84; CI 1.58-9.34, P = 0.003), and having poorer self-image
(OR 1.09; CI = 1.03-1.16, P < 0.002).
Conclusion Preventive and therapeutic interventions in
incarcerated delinquents should be specifically targeted
toward single parenthood, family factors, trauma oriented
interventions, and focused on multiple dimensions of selfconcept
of adolescents.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
117011
URI
Publication date:
15.10.2013.
Visits: 1.772 *