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The association between maltreatment in childhood and criminal convictions to age 24: a prospective study of a community sample of males from disadvantaged neighbourhoods

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Abstract

While many studies have observed a positive association between maltreatment in childhood and criminality in adolescence and adulthood, others have failed to detect such an association. Most studies, however, have not examined different types of maltreatment, nor taken account of other family and childhood factors that are predictive of criminality. Using data from a prospective, longitudinal investigation of a community sample of 1,037 males, we calculated hierarchical logistic regression models to estimate the associations of boys’ self-reports of neglect, emotional abuse, and physical abuse at ages 10 and 12, with convictions for criminal offenses from age 12 to 24, after taking account of conduct problems, hurtful and uncaring behaviours (HUB), and parent’s criminality. At ages 10 and 12, boys’ reports of neglect, emotional abuse, and physical abuse, were not associated with criminal convictions for non-violent or for violent crimes from age 12 to 24. Among boys who did not engage in HUB towards others reports of emotional abuse were associated with subsequent criminality, while this association disappeared among the boys engaging in such behaviours. In this community sample of males, levels of each type of maltreatment were low and there were no direct associations with subsequent criminal convictions. The findings add to emerging evidence that the characteristics of the child and parents, as well as the type of maltreatment modify the association with future criminal offending.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant to the first author from Ministerio de Educación de España, by the Programa Nacional de Movilidad de Recursos Humanos del Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2008–2011. Over the years, the project has been funded by grants from Fonds Québecois de la Recherche sur la Société et la Culture, Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec, and Social Sciences and Humanities research Council of Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit on Children’s Psycho-Social Maladjustment, University of Montreal, 3050, Boulevard Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J7, Canada

    Teresa C. Silva, Peter Larm, Frank Vitaro & Richard E. Tremblay

  2. Philippe-Pinel Institute Research Centre, 10905, Boulevard Henri-Bourassa, Montréal, QC, H1C 1H1, Canada

    Teresa C. Silva, Peter Larm & Sheilagh Hodgins

  3. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Richard E. Tremblay

  4. Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Sheilagh Hodgins

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  1. Teresa C. Silva
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  2. Peter Larm
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  3. Frank Vitaro
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  4. Richard E. Tremblay
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Correspondence to Teresa C. Silva.

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Silva, T.C., Larm, P., Vitaro, F. et al. The association between maltreatment in childhood and criminal convictions to age 24: a prospective study of a community sample of males from disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 21, 403–413 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-012-0281-x

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