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Polytraumatization, Mental Health, and Delinquency Among Adolescent Gang Members
Author(s) -
Nydegger Liesl A.,
Quinn Katherine,
Walsh Jennifer L.,
PacellaLaBarbara Maria L.,
DicksonGomez Julia
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.22473
Subject(s) - juvenile delinquency , mental health , psychiatry , poison control , population , suicide prevention , clinical psychology , psychology , injury prevention , occupational safety and health , depression (economics) , human factors and ergonomics , medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract Adolescent gang members are at high risk for polytraumatization (i.e., experiencing two or more types of trauma), which may contribute to behavioral problems, such as delinquency or drug distribution, and mental health symptoms, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The present study examined the associations between polytraumatization and these behavioral and mental health outcomes. We hypothesized that increased polytraumatization would lead to increased (b) mental health symptoms, (b) delinquency, and (c) drug distribution. Participants included 441 adolescent gang members (57.8% male; age range: 14–19 years) from a midsized city in the Midwestern United States. A path model was used to test hypotheses. A total of 88.0% of participants experienced polytraumatization, such as physical and sexual assault, involvement in accidents, or witnessing a death or injury. Polytraumatization was uniquely and positively associated with depressive and PTSD symptoms, delinquency, and drug distribution, βs = .25–.50, p s < .001, explaining an additional 5.9%–22.5% of the variance in these outcomes beyond covariates. Untreated traumatic exposure among adolescent gang members may subsequently lead to poor behavioral and mental health outcomes. These results may inform prevention and intervention efforts focused on mental health and social justice among a high‐risk adolescent population.