Citation

McLeer J, DeHart D. J. Child Adolesc. Trauma 2013; 6(1): 74-89.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1080/19361521.2013.735353

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There are indications that stressful live factors--such as instability of childhood residence, schools, and primary caregivers--may be associated with occurrence of adolescent delinquency. Using self-report interviews with 100 girls committed to a juvenile facility, we examined the duration of substance use and running away as it related to childhood instability indicators including changes in caregivers, residences, and schools in the girls' lives.

FINDINGS showed significant associations between status offending and childhood instability. Specifically, girls' substance abuse was positively associated with number of schools attended. Additionally, running away was positively associated with number of schools and number of different primary caregivers, but was negatively associated with number of different residences. Potential explanations and implications for future research are addressed.

Language: en