Risk and Protective Factors for Recidivism Among Juveniles Who Have Offended Sexually

Literature on risk factors for recidivism among juveniles who have sexually offended (JSOs) is limited. In addition, there have been no studies published concerning protective factors among this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of risk and protective factors to sexual and nonsexual recidivism among a sample of 193 male JSOs (mean age = 15.26). Youths were followed for an average of 7.24 years following discharge from a residential sex offender treatment program. The risk factor opportunities to reoffend, as coded based on the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism, was associated with sexual recidivism. Several risk factors (e.g., prior offending; peer delinquency) were associated with nonsexual recidivism. No protective factors examined were associated with sexual recidivism, although strong attachments and bonds as measured by the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth was negatively related to nonsexual recidivism. These findings indicate that risk factors for nonsexual recidivism may be consistent across both general adolescent offender populations and JSOs, but that there may be distinct protective factors that apply to sexual recidivism among JSOs. Results also indicate important needs for further research on risk factors, protective factors, and risk management strategies for JSOs

Multiple Determinants of Sexualized Behavior in Middle Childhood: A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective

In order to adequately and appropriately intervene with children exhibiting problematic sexual behaviors, a comprehensive understanding of etiology is imperative. Although sexually abused children are observed engaging in more problematic sexual behaviors than their normative or psychiatric counterparts, it is clear that such behaviors may be the result of factors other than, or in addition to, sexual abuse. The goal of the present study was utilize a developmental psychopathology perspective in broadening our understanding of mechanisms associated with the development of problematic sexual behaviors in childhood. Participants for the study include 1, 149 children (51.8% female) drawn from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), a large multi-site consortium investigating child health and development. Both variable-centered and person-centered approaches were used to examine factors across a number of developmental-ecological domains (e.g., child, parent, immediate interactional context, and broader social context) associated with the development of problematic sexual behaviors in middle childhood. Overall, results suggest that although sexual abuse constitutes a risk factor for sexualized behaviors, other factors – particularly those in the maternal domain and immediate interactional context – also contribute to the display of subsequent sexualized behaviors. Furthermore, subgroups of children appear to demonstrate sexualized behaviors for different constellations of reasons, consistent with the concept of equifinality. Finally, results of both the variable-centered and person-centered analyses indicated that sexual abuse appears to be a more important etiological mechanism associated with the development of sexualized behavior for girls, versus boys. The present study fills an important void in both the child psychopathology and child maltreatment literatures and contributes to the ongoing discourse regarding treatment of children exhibiting problematic sexualized behaviors

Motivation to Self-harm in Middle Childhood: Relationship to Emotional Symptomotology and Home Environment

Self-harm in childhood is an important, though neglected area of empirical research. Research has, however, investigated the emotional and environmental factors associated with self-harm in adolescent and adult populations. This research provides a foundation from which to investigate desire to self-harm in child populations. With regard to emotional factors, self-injurers report having a negative affect they wish to avoid (Polk & Liss, 2007). Further, distraction from emotional pain has been identified as the most prevalent motivation for self-harm across genders (Swannell, Martin, Scott, Gibbons, & Gifford, 2008). Briere and Gil (1998) found self-injury is used in an attempt to decrease dissociation and emotional distress. Additionally, individuals who self-harm present with risk factors in their home environment. Polk and Liss (2007) found self-injurers may have lacked emotional nurturance. Oftentimes, those who self-harm report having “a good relationship with one parent and a sharply negative relationship with the other” and come from families in which anger is prohibited (Carroll, Schaffer, Spensley, & Abramowitz, 1980). Further research has shown various types of maltreatment are related to self-harm. Brierie and Gil (1998) found childhood sexual abuse and posttraumatic symptoms are good predictors. Correlations with self-injury have also been found with childhood history of physical abuse exposure to family violence (Carroll, Schaffer, Spensley, & Abramowitz, 1980), as well as neglect (Himber, 1994). Research has examined female self-injurers in particular. Gallop (2002) found for many women survivors of child abuse, self-harm behaviors serve as a form of self-soothing to deal with intense and painful emotions. These emotions may have become overwhelming because of suppressed expression of feelings, double messages, and lack of affection within the family (Favazza & Conterio, 1989). Favazza and Conterio (1989) also found self-harmful behavior in women to be a function of impulsivity, providing relief from racing thoughts, depersonalization, and anxiety. The purpose of this study is to better understand the desire to self-harm in middle childhood, an age group neglected by extant research. Linear discriminant function analyses were performed to investigate emotional factors such as anxiety, dissociation and suicidality as well as home environmental factors of physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, and parental substance abuse as they relate to self-harm in seven to nine-year-olds who have been identified as “at risk” for neglect and maltreatment. The present study uses a population comparison across genders to identify differences in motivations to selfharm. Our research hypothesis stated children exhibiting emotional distress (e.g., anxiety, higher dissociation, suicidality) would be more likely to want to self-harm than children not reporting such distress. Additionally, we hypothesized children who had environmental risk factors (e.g., histories of physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, parental substance abuse) would be more likely to want to self-harm than their counterparts without such risk factors

Thoughts of Suicidality and Self-harm in Middle Childhood: Relationship with Child Maltreatment and Maternal Substance Abuse and Depression

Child maltreatment victims are at increased risk for a multitude of symptoms, including: internalizing problems (e.g., depression, anxiety), behavior problems (e.g., aggression) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (Paolucci, Genuis, & Violato, 2001). Not all maltreated children present with the same outcomes, and research consistently demonstrates child abuse does not have an inevitable pattern or a unified presentation of symptoms. Some youth may be asymptomatic following abuse; others display a myriad of symptoms at varying levels of severity (Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993). A small percentage of this group becomes suicidal. Recent studies have presented accumulating evidence that suicidality and self-harm warrant concern in the maltreated population. Child maltreatment has bivariate associations with suicidal ideation (Brezo, Paris, Tremblay, Vitaro, Zoccolillo, Hebert, et al., 2006), and childhood sexual abuse is a consistent correlate of suicide attempts (Brezo, Paris, Tremblay, Vitaro, Hébert, and Turecki, 2007). However, the majority of the literature addresses adults and adolescents; little is known about early onset of self-harm and suicidality. In addition to maltreatment, maternal factors, such as substance abuse and depression, form a potentially important construct with regards to childhood suicidality and self-harm. Goodman (1994) found 20 percent of depressed mothers had a child with major depression or dysthymia. Research has further shown children of depressed parents are at greater risk for suicidal behavior (Warner, Weissman, Fendrich, Wickramaratne, & Moreaur, 1992). The current study builds on existing research to examine child maltreatment, maternal mental health, and child thoughts of self-harm and suicidality in concert. Participants included 1,117 children drawn from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) Consortium. At age 8, the child completed the Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSCL; Briere & Runtz, 1989), which assesses the effects of childhood trauma through self-report. The child and the primary maternal caregiver completed alternate forms of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991), which assesses internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Domains assessed by the TSCL and the CBCL include suicidal desire and wanting to self-harm. The mother completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI; Derogatis, 1975), a screening test to identify self-reported clinically relevant psychological symptoms (e.g., depression). Additionally, the Modified Maltreatment Classification System (MMCS; English & the LONGSCAN Investigators, 1997) was utilized to code official CPS records of child sexual, physical and emotional abuse. The present study uses a series of hierarchical (nested) regression analyses predicting suicidality and thoughts of self-harm at age 8, accounting for reports of abuse before age 8. Reported physical, sexual and emotional abuse prior to age 8 is entered in Step 1, followed by mother’s depression score and mother’s substance abuse in Step 2. Analyses reveal several variables that significantly influence children’s thoughts of self-harm and suicidality. For example, physical abuse (M = 6.16, S = 1.773) was a significant predictor for “talks about killing self” (M = .04, S = .200), r (2370) = .046, p = .026. Results of this study will guide the development of more effective clinical interventions in child abuse victims and their caregivers

Understanding Child Sexual Behavior Problems: A Developmental Psychopathology Framework

entific community. While a heterogeneous group, children with sexual behavior problems consistently demonstrate a number of problems related to adjustment and overall development. In order to appropriately intervene with these children, a comprehensive understanding of etiology is imperative. The overarching goal of the present paper is to review the extant research on mechanisms associated with the development of problematic sexual behavior in childhood within a developmental psychopathology framework. What is known about normative and nonnormative sexual behavior in childhood is reviewed, highlighting definitional challenges and age-related developmental differences. Further, the relationship between child sexual abuse and child sexual behavior problems is discussed, drawing attention to factors impacting this relationship. Risk factors for child sexual behavior problems, beyond that of sexual abuse, are also reviewed utilizing a transactional–ecological framework. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of implications of a developmental psychopathology perspective on problematic child sexual behaviors to inform future research and intervention efforts. Such implications include the need for attention to normative childhood sexual behavior, developmental sensitivity, and examinations of ecological domain in concert