Chaos and Trauma in the Lives of Adolescent Females with Antisocial Behavior and Delinquency (From Trauma and Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Research, and Interventions, P 79-108, 2002, Ricky Greenwald, ed., -- See NCJ-198433)

• NCJ Number: 198437
• Author(s): Patricia Chamberlain; Kevin J. Moore
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 30 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 MH47458; R01 MH54257; P50 MH 46690
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Sale Source: Haworth Maltreatment and Trauma Press
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses the prevalence and form of antisocial behavior in female adolescents.

Abstract

In general, girls may be at lower risk for conduct problems than boys, but those that are aggressive as adolescents are more likely than males to exhibit comorbid depression. Research shows that, regardless of gender, relationally aggressive children are significantly more rejected by peers and report more loneliness and depression. Severe antisocial behavior in adolescence leads to extremely poor adult adjustment for females. Children of adolescent mothers are at risk for negative outcomes. Mothers with a history of severe antisocial behavior as adolescents put the next generation at risk in a number of ways. They are more likely to associate with antisocial men, be in abusive relationships, get divorced, exhibit poor parenting skills, and have lower incomes and receive welfare. An Oregon study of female delinquency randomly assigned girls to one of two treatment conditions: Treatment Foster Care (TFC) or Group Care (GC). Girls were assessed using a multi-method multi-agent assessment strategy. The domains thought to influence girls’ long-term adjustment included criminal behavior, mental health, history of trauma/abuse, parenting practices girls have experienced, educational history and level, substance use, sexual history, and relational aggression. The Oregon TFC model attempts to provide girls with several basic program components plus individualized services and supports that address their specific needs. Basic program components are organized around the notion of providing girls with a safe, supportive, and stable family living environment. There is evidence that adolescent female aggression is expressed in interpersonal contexts. Using social-interactional treatment strategies have been shown to reduce both male and female adolescent delinquency rates. If the relational/social aggressive behaviors associated with the conduct disorders in girls are not directly treated, the girls will remain at risk for negative long-term interpersonal and developmental outcomes. 5 tables, 81 references