Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multiple Types of Child Maltreatment, Posttraumatic Stress, Dissociative Symptoms, and Reactive Aggression among Adolescent Criminal Offenders

  • PTSD, Depression, Dissociation and Recidivism among Delinquent Youth
  • Published:
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study focused on psychological correlates of child maltreatment histories among male adolescent offenders (N = 123). Four assessment strategies employed to assess four types of maltreatment revealed that approximately 81.9% of offenders had been exposed to at least one type of maltreatment; the majority had experienced multiple types. Multiple maltreatment positively predicted reactive aggression and dissociative symptoms; these relationships were stronger than relationships with traditional Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The significant relationship between multiple maltreatment and reactive aggression was fully mediated by dissociative symptoms and partially mediated by PTSD symptoms. We discussed the use of complex trauma models to guide assessments of and interventions with adolescent offenders who had been traumatized by multiple types of maltreatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abram, K. M., Teplin, L. A., Charles, D. R., Longworth, S. L., McClelland, G. M., & Dulcan, M. K. (2004). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and trauma in youth in juvenile detention. Archives of General Psychiatry, 61, 403–410.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arata, C., Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Bowers, D., O’Brien, N., & McClelland, G. (2007). Differential correlates of multi-type maltreatment among urban youth. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 393–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein-Carlson, E. B., & Putnam, F. W. (1986). Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 174, 727–735.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briere, J. (1996). Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, A., Spinazzola, J., Ford, J., Lanktree, C., Blaustein, M., Cloitre, M. et al. (2005). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 390–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crapanzono, A. M., Frick, P. J., & Terranova, A. M. (2010). Patterns of physical and relational aggression in a school-based sample of boys and girls. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38, 433–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croysdale, A. E., Drerup, L. C., Bewsey, K., & Hoffmann, N. G. (2008). Correlates of victimization in a juvenile justice population. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 17(1), 103–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuffe, S. P., Addy, C. L., Garrison, C. Z., Waller, J. L., Jackson, K. L., McKeown, R. E., et al. (1998). Prevalence of PTSD in a community sample of older adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 147–154.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, L. M., & Dunn, L. M. (1981). Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Famularo, R., Kinscherff, R., Fenton, T., & Bolduc, S. M. (1990). Child maltreatment histories among runaway and delinquent children. Clinical Pediatrics, 29, 713–718.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D. (1979). Sexually victimized children. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R. K., & Turner, H. A. (2007). Poly-victimization: A neglected component in child victimization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 7–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D. (2002). Traumatic victimization in childhood and persistent problems with oppositional defiance. In R. Greenwald (Ed.), Trauma and juvenile delinquency (pp. 25–58). Binghamton, NY: Haworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D., Elhai, J. D., Connor, M. D., & Frueh, B. C. (2010). Poly-victimization and risk of posttraumatic, depressive, and substance use disorders and involvement in delinquency in a national sample of adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46, 545–552.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwald, R. (2002). The role of trauma in conduct disorder. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 6, 5–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, G., Germain, E. J., & Wilkerson, R. G. (in press). Using a trauma-informed approach in juvenile justice institutions. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma.

  • Herrenkohl, T. I., Huang, B., Tajima, E. A., & Whitney, S. B. (2003). Examining the link between child abuse and youth violence: An analysis of mediating mechanisms. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18, 1189–1208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jesness, C. F. (2002). Jesness Inventory Manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerig, P. K., Ward, R. M., Vanderzee, K. L., & Moeddel, M. A. (2009). Posttraumatic stress as a mediator of the relationship between trauma and mental health problems among juvenile delinquents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38, 1214–1225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kira, I. A. (2001). Taxonomy of trauma and trauma assessment. Traumatology, 7, 73–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lansford, J. E., Miller-Johnson, S., Dodge, K. A., Bates, J. E., & Petit, G. S. (2007). Early physical abuse and later violent delinquency: A prospective longitudinal study. Child Maltreatment, 12, 233–245.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, M., & Cicchetti, D. (1998). An ecological-transactional analysis of children and contexts: The longitudinal interplay among child maltreatment, community violence, and children’s symptomatology. Development and Psychopathology, 10, 235–257.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mersky, J. P., & Reynolds, A. J. (2007). Child maltreatment and violent delinquency: Disentangling main effects and subgroup effects. Child Maltreatment, 12, 246–258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moor, A., & Silvern, L. (2006). Identifying pathways linking child abuse to psychological outcome: The mediating role of perceived parental failure of empathy. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 6(4), 91–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nuru-Jeter, M. A., Sarsour, K., Jutte, P. D., & Boyce, W. T. (2010). Socioeconomic predictors of health and development in middle childhood: Variations by socioeconomic status measure and race. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 33(2), 59–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sedlak, A., & Broadhurst, D. (1996). Third national incidence study of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shields, A., & Cicchetti, D. (1998). Reactive aggression among maltreated children: The contributions of attention and emotion dysregulation. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 27(4), 381–395.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silvern, L., McClintic, B., Kaersvang, L., Waelde, L. & Karyl, J. (2000). Retrospective reports of child sexual and physical abuse as defined by researchers versus subjects: Effects on apparent prevalence and relationships to adult adjustment. Child Maltreatment, 5, 236–250.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silvern, L., & McClintic-Griese, B. (2009, November). Excluding Developmental Trauma Disorder from the DSM: Practical realities for youth in the juvenile justice system. Panel presentation at the 25th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Atlanta, GA.

  • Silvern, L., McClintic-Griese, B., & Stolbach, B. (2008, November). Life stressors and posttraumatic symptoms in juvenile offenders: Implications for Developmental Trauma Disorder. Poster presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Chicago, IL.

  • Steiner, H., Garcia, I. G., & Matthews, Z. (1997). Posttraumatic stress disorder in incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 357–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stolbach, B. (2005). Psychotherapy of an 8-year-old boy burned at age 3. Psychiatric Annals, 35, 685–694.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stolbach, B., Silvern, L., Williams, W., & Reyes, G. (1997, November). The Children’s Dissociative Experiences Scale and Posttraumatic Symptom Inventory. Paper presented at the 13th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Study of Traumatic Stress, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

  • Straus, M. (1979). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The Conflict Tactics Scale. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 75–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Finkelhor, D., Moore, D. W., & Runyan, D. (1998). Identification of child maltreatment with the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales: Development and psychometric data for a national sample of American parents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22(4), 249–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Kolk, B. A. (2005). Developmental trauma disorder: Toward a rational diagnosis for children with complex trauma histories. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 401–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Kolk, B. A., Pelcovitz, D., Roth, S., Mandel, F. S., McFarlane, A., & Herman, J. L. (1996). Dissociation, somatization, and affect dysregulation: The complexity of adaptation to trauma. American Journal of Psychiatry, 153, 83–93.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waelde, L., Silvern, L., Carlson, E., Fairbank, J., & Kletter, H. (2009). Dissociation in PTSD. In P. F. Dell & J. A. O’Neil (Eds.), Dissociation and the dissociative disorders: DSM-V and beyond (pp. 447–456). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wind, T., & Silvern, L. (1992). Type and extent of child abuse as predictors of adult functioning. Family Violence, 7, 261–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wind, T., & Silvern, L. (1994). Parental warmth and childhood stress as mediators of the long-term effects of child abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 439–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, Campus Box 345, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA

    Louise Silvern

  2. Judi’s House, Denver, USA

    Brook Griese

Authors
  1. Louise Silvern
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brook Griese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Louise Silvern.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silvern, L., Griese, B. Multiple Types of Child Maltreatment, Posttraumatic Stress, Dissociative Symptoms, and Reactive Aggression among Adolescent Criminal Offenders. Journ Child Adol Trauma 5, 88–101 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1080/19361521.2012.671799

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19361521.2012.671799

Keywords

Search

Navigation