NCJ Number
179062
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: July-August 1999 Pages: 219-230
Editor(s)
Kevin D. Browne,
Margaret A. Lynch
Date Published
1999
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study traced a developmental pathway across the life span to indicate how certain individual characteristics independently increase the likelihood of both drinking alcoholic beverages and behaving violently.
Abstract
Based on a literature review of research into the precursors of both substance abuse and serious antisocial behavior in adulthood, this study identified precursors for early childhood, later childhood and early adolescence, adolescence, and late adolescence and early adulthood. The author concludes that the risk factors for drinking, violent crime, and alcohol-related violent crime in developmental sequence are difficult temperament, hyperactivity, conduct problems, poor family management, family models of substance use, pro-substance use norms, hostile beliefs, family violence, poor school performance, truancy, association with delinquent peers, drinking in entertainment venues, criminogenic outcome expectancies in relation to drinking, criminal lifestyle, and antisocial attitudes. These risk factors indicate areas to target in prevention programs and individual interventions. In the early years, programs aimed at supporting parents and helping them manage their children effectively are important; later on, interventions aimed at improving school affiliation are helpful. When domestic violence is involved, parents must be helped to change their behavior, and the children must be protected and helped to process the experience. Adolescents need to learn individual skills necessary for survival without recourse to heavy drinking, crime, and violence, and young adults can benefit from reviewing and modifying the lifestyle that traps people into drinking and violence. 39 references