You Learn What You Live: Prevalence of Childhood Adversity in the Lives of Juveniles Arrested for Sexual Offenses
Date
2017
Journal Title
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Publisher
Advances in Social Work
Abstract
Social workers often find themselves working with children or adolescents who
have been victims of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including youths who have
ended up in the juvenile justice system. Childhood trauma has been linked to negative
health, mental health, and behavioral outcomes across the lifespan. The aim of this study
was to examine the prevalence rates of child maltreatment and household dysfunction in
the lives of juveniles who have been arrested for sexual offenses (JSO; n = 6,549). ACE
prevalence rates for JSOs were compared by gender to juveniles arrested for other crimes,
to adults arrested for sexual offenses, and to the general population. Youths in the
delinquency system in Florida had much higher rates of high-ACE scores than the general
population, indicating that they came from households where the accumulation and variety
of early adversity is a salient feature in their lives. For those who have engaged in sexually
abusive behavior, the existence of early maltreatment and family problems was prominent.
Through a better understanding of the traumatic experiences of these youths, we can
inform and enhance interventions designed to improve the functioning of sexually abusive
juvenile clients and their families, and reduce risk of future recidivism.
Description
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Keywords
social workers, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), long term effects, prevalence, juvenile offenders
Citation
Levenson, J. S., Baglivio, M., Wolff, K. T., Epps, N., Gomez, K. C., & Kaplan, D. (2017). You Learn What You Live: Prevalence of Childhood Adversity in the Lives of Juveniles Arrested for Sexual Offenses. Advances in Social Work, 18(1), 313-334.