The role of criminal cognitions and personality traits in non-violent recidivism: Empirical investigation within a prison sample

The observation that many offenders re-engage in crime following their initial incarceration, and the effect this crime has on the prison system and society in general, has lead criminologists to investigate the factors that are associated with re-engagement in crime and based on these factors to attempt to estimate the risk that an individual will reoffend. Given the increased attention given to dangerousness in the criminal justice system, much research has focused on the prediction of violent recidivism. Less attention has been given to the study of non-violent recidivism; however, it has been demonstrated that there is no distinction between the variables that are predictive of violent and general recidivism (Bonta, Harman, Hann, and Cormier, 1996; Gendreau, Little, and Goggin, 1996). The purpose of the current study is to investigate the predictors of non-violent recidivism, in particular the role of criminal cognitions and personality factors in non-violent recidivism

A Systematic Review of the Provision of Sexuality Education to Student Teachers in Initial Teacher Education

Teachers, and their professional learning and development, have been identified as playing an integral role in enabling children and young people’s right to comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). The provision of sexuality education (SE) during initial teacher education (ITE) is upheld internationally, as playing a crucial role in relation to the implementation and quality of school-based SE. This systematic review reports on empirical studies published in English from 1990 to 2019. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, five databases were searched: ERIC, Education Research Complete, PsycINFO, Web of Science and MEDLINE. From a possible 1,153 titles and abstracts identified, 15 papers were selected for review. Results revealed that research on SE during ITE is limited and minimal research has focused on student teachers’ attitudes on SE. Findings indicate that SE provision received is varied and not reflective of comprehensive SE. Recommendations highlight the need for robust research to inform quality teacher professional development practices to support teachers to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to teach comprehensive SE

Improving research on parental involvement in sexuality education: Findings from the Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Survey – 2010

Sexuality education research has highlighted the importance of parental involvement2. Parents largely concur with the idea that they should play a fundamental role in their children’s sexuality education; indeed, 95% of parents in one national UK study felt that discussing contraception with their children was primarily their responsibility3. However, only 58% of those parents had actually done so, suggesting that these beliefs are not always reflected in practice3. Investigating sexuality education frequently occurs via national sexual health surveys. For example both the Irish Study on Sexual Health and Relationships4 and the UK National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles II5 included questions that asked participants about learning about sex when they were growing up. Understanding the factors that influence parents in engaging in sexuality education would benefit from advances in research design and methods

A systematic review of the provision of sexuality education to student teachers in Initial teacher education

Teachers, and their professional learning and development, have been identified as playing an integral role in enabling children and young people’s right to comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). The provision of sexuality education (SE) during initial teacher education (ITE) is upheld internationally, as playing a crucial role in relation to the implementation and quality of school-based SE. This systematic review reports on empirical studies published in English from 1990 to 2019. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, five databases were searched: ERIC, Education Research Complete, PsycINFO, Web of Science and MEDLINE. From a possible 1,153 titles and abstracts identified, 15 papers were selected for review. Findings are reported in relation to the WHO Regional Office for Europe and BZgA (2017) Training Matters: Framework of core competencies for sexuality educators. Results revealed that research on SE during ITE is limited and minimal research has focused on student teachers’ attitudes on SE. Findings indicate that SE provision received is varied and not reflective of comprehensive SE. Recommendations highlight the need for robust research to inform quality teacher professional development practices to support teachers to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to teach comprehensive SE

Female perpetrators of child sexual abuse: characteristics of the offender and victim

Purpose: This study investigates the prevalence rates of female perpetrated child sexual abuse in Ireland and explores the victim and perpetrator characteristics associated with the abuse. Methods: Data were from a nationally representative survey investigating sexual violence among adults living in Ireland (n = 3120). Descriptive statistics and regression analysis investigated the characteristics of female versus male perpetrated sexual abuse. Results: Approximately 6% of all the victims of child sexual abuse in the sample were abused by a lone female, which represents 1.5% of the overall adult population. Analyses indicated that male and female perpetrated abuse differ mainly in terms of the demographic characteristics of the perpetrators and victims: Female perpetrators are more likely to be younger, and are more likely to abuse male victims and older children and adolescents (9-17 years), compared with male perpetrators. Additionally, female perpetrators are less likely to be a stranger to the victim and in a position of authority, compared with male perpetrators. Conclusion: Treatment services should be particularly tailored for female perpetrated abuse, as the dynamics between the victim and perpetrator are likely to be different to male perpetrated abuse. The study adds to this relatively neglected area of research

Sex education, first sex and sexual health outcomes in adulthood: Findings from a nationally representative survey

Two main questions we aim to answer... 1. Is sex education effective in delaying first sexual intercourse and encouraging contraception use on this occasion? 2. Is receiving sex education related to sexual health outcomes/behaviours in later life and does the context of first sex have any role in this relationship

Factors associated with crisis pregnancies in Ireland: Findings from three nationally representative sexual health surveys

Background: Findings on the demographic and sexual health characteristics associated with the experience of a crisis pregnancy is important to inform the public health policy of a country, including Ireland. Findings from other jurisdictions have suggested that certain demographic groups are at risk for unintended pregnancies and the disparity between the groups have been growing in recent years. Ireland is a country which experienced much economic and societal change in the first decade of the 21st century, changes which are likely to have affected demographic variables pertaining to sexual health. The current study had two aims: to investigate changes in the socioeconomic characteristics associated with crisis pregnancies over a seven year period [2003 to 2010], and to investigate the recent [2010] socioeconomic risk factors associated with crisis pregnancies in Ireland. Methods: The study compared the results from 18-45 year old women using data from three broadly similar nationally representative Irish sexual health surveys carried out in 2003, 2004-2006 and 2010. Chi square analysis compared of the socioeconomic characteristics across the seven year period and found that a higher proportion of women with two or more children and women for whom religion was not important reported a crisis pregnancy in 2010 compared with earlier years. A logistic regression then investigated the sexual health history and socioeconomic factors associated with the experience of a recent crisis pregnancy using the most recent 2010 data. Results: Receipt of sex education and contraception use at first sex significantly predicted the experiencing of a recent crisis pregnancy. Younger women and those with a lower level of education were more likely to report having experienced a recent crisis pregnancy. Conclusion: Similar demographic groups are at risk for experiencing a crisis pregnancy in Ireland compared with international research, yet the disparities between demographic groups who have experienced a crisis pregnancy appear to be decreasing rather than increasing over a seven year period. Recommendations are made with regard to the provision of continued sex education throughout the lifespan, particularly for those women who are at an increased risk of experiencing a crisis pregnancy

Assessment of psycho-social factors predicting recidivistic violent offenses within a sample of male prisoners

The aim of current research was to investigate the role of prisonization, personality traits, and criminal social identity in predicting violent offending within a sample of recidivistic inmates from high security prison. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a higher frequency of imprisonments, higher levels of extraversion, higher levels of cognitive centrality and lower levels of in-group affect all predict a greater probability of committing a violent criminal act. These results provide a substantial contribution to the criminal psychology literature by further elucidating the intricate role of extraversion in the understanding of criminal behaviour, empirically demonstrating the importance of criminal social identity in the prediction of violent criminal behaviour, and providing additional support for the possible role of prisonization effects in the emergence of violent criminal behaviour

Sex in Ireland in the last decade: Sexual health research and its policy implications

There has been significant investment in sexual health research in Ireland over the last decade. Researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have been involved in the three national, cross-sectional, general sexual health surveys, involving 13,000 adults, that have been conducted in Ireland since 2003*. The first was The Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy (ICCP) Study 2003 (ICCP-2003)1, which was designed to establish nationally-representative data on current atti­tudes, knowledge and experience of contraception, crisis pregnancy and related services in Ireland. This was followed, in 2006, by The Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (ISSHR)2, which was designed to build a representative and reli­able picture of sex and sexual behaviour in Ireland, including levels of sexual knowledge. Most recently, The Irish Contracep­tion and Crisis Pregnancy Study 2010 (ICCP-2010)3, was a repeat of the earlier ICCP study, providing an important opportunity to explore trends over time. This brief is based on a research project conducted in 2012 entitled: ‘Exploring trends in sexual activity, contraceptive use, and pregnancy experiences in Ireland: a secondary analysis of national survey data from the last decade’ which was designed to review the state of current knowledge in the area of sexual health, with the aim of informing policy and identifying future research directions. Four main research questions were explored: Who is talking to their children about sex? Does sex education have an impact on age and contraception use at first sex? Who has experienced a crisis pregnancy in Ireland? Who has ever had an STI and/or HIV test? Suitable participants and variables across datasets were identified and extracted for analysis. All participants were younger adults aged 18-45 years. Further methodological details are available on request from [email protected] *RCSI also completed a separate, related national survey of sexual violence in 2001 (SAVI: Sexual Abuse \u26 Violence in Ireland)

Periconceptional folic acid supplementation in a nationally representative sample of Irish mothers

This study reports recent trends in periconceptional folic acid use in Ireland using archived data from Growing Up in Ireland ? the National Longitudinal Study of Children. Of a sample of 10,891 mothers, 6,936 (64%) reported taking folic acid before conception and 10,157 (93%) reported taking folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy. Younger (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.29-0.50), lower income (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.51-0.68), lower educated (OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.66-0.89), and single mothers (OR=0.46, 95% CI=0.40-0.52) were less likely to have taken folic acid pre-conception. A similar pattern was found post-conception with younger (OR=0.58, 95% CI=0.40-0.84), lower income (OR=0.40, 95% CI=0.30-0.53), lower educated (OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.38-0.66), and single mothers (OR=0.74, 95% CI=0.60-0.91) less likely to have taken folic acid post-conception. The findings highlight an ongoing need for targeted promotional campaigns to increase supplementation rates among younger and socially disadvantaged mothers