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Examining the Impact of Victimization on Girls' Delinquency: A Study of Direct and Indirect Effects

NCJ Number
253991
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Volume: 16 Issue: 11 Dated: 2019
Author(s)
Johanna. Peterson; Dana DeHart; Emily Wright
Date Published
2019
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Since previous research has acknowledged that there is a relationship between victimization and later delinquency, but the specific attributes of this relationship are unclear because measures of both direct and indirect victimization are rarely explored in a single study, the current study included both indirect and direct victimization to examine which form of victimization was a stronger predictor of substance use, fighting, running away, and sex work among girls committed to a juvenile justice facility.
Abstract

The study's findings indicate that direct victimization was typically a more salient predictor of delinquency than indirect forms of victimization. Further, running away and sex work appeared to be unique outcomes that were particularly likely when girls experienced direct rather than indirect victimization. Findings are summarized with implications for health and public policy. (publisher abstract modified)