Childhood antecedents of adult violent offending in a group of female felons

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential antecedents of violent felony arrest in a sample of female felons. Among male populations, early onset conduct disorder (CD) with progression to adult anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) is associated with increased criminality and aggression. Conduct disorder is associated with a worsened trajectory of alcohol dependence in men. These factors likely have a synergistic contribution to male adult violent offending. Existing work suggests that CD, ASPD, and severe alcohol dependence may represent an externalizing endophenotype, which is, at least in part, genetically conferred. These associations have not been well studied in female populations. The author examined a sample (N = 130) of female mid-sentence felons to determine associations between adult arrest for violent felony with child and young adult antecedents, including CD and alcohol dependence. Data were gathered through administration of the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism II (SSAGA II). CD had high prevalence (40.8%), as did ASPD (31.4%) and alcohol dependence (43.8%). Women convicted of violent felonies were more likely to have CD with progression to ASPD, and alcohol dependence. Both alcohol dependence and CD were independently associated with violent offending. These data suggest that the most serious female offenders have psychopathology similar to that of males and that the trajectory of disease and etiology of violent behavior may not be as gender specific as previously presumed.

Violent Female Offending: An Exploration of Repeat and One-Time Offending

“…This emphasizes the early development of a violent behavioral repertoire and also the potentially protective role of intimate relationships for women. Indeed, the greater psychopathology evident across a number of variables in this study for RV offenders is echoed throughout the literature (Byrd & Davis, 2009;Heide & Solomon, 2006;Lewis, 2010;Logan & Blackburn, 2009;Rossegger et al, 2009). In this respect it is interesting to note similarities with male offenders, such as a young age at first violent offense and child conduct problems, which appear to be relevant risk markers across both genders .…”

“…The apparent rise in violent female offending has increased the focus on risk factors that may initiate and maintain this type of offending (Lewis, 2010;Rossegger et al, 2009;Thornton, Graham-Kevan, & Archer, 2010). This is of particular importance for those custodial institutions and professionals responsible for delivering offender treatment and risk management programmes (Covington & Bloom, 2003;Van Voorhis et al, 2008;Welfare & Hollin, 2012).…”

“…The complex interaction between multiple risk factors and adverse life events has led some authors to advocate a 'pathways' approach to understanding violent female behaviour (Batchelor, Burman, & Brown, 2001;Blanchette & Motiuk, 1996;Bloom, Owen & Covington, 2004;Bottos, 2007;Covington & Bloom, 2003;Holin & Palmer, 2006;Lewis, 2010;Rossegger et al, 2009;Van Voorhis et al, 2010). Through this approach the stressors in a woman's life-poverty, unemployment, and other socially devaluing factors-as well as maladaptive coping mechanisms and mental health difficulties appear to significantly increase the propensity and seriousness of female violent offending (Byrd & Davis, 2009;Graves, 2007;Heide & Solomon, 2009;Logan & Blackburn, 2009;Rossegger et al, 2009).…”

Multiple Family Groups for Child Behavior Difficulties

“…Not surprisingly, children in contact with child welfare organizations manifest disproportionately high rates of behavior difficulties compared to children in the general population (ACF, 2005; Burns et al, 2004; Merikangas, Nakamura, & Kessler, 2009). If left untreated, child behavioral difficulties can lead to future maltreatment (Black, Heyman, & Smith, 2001; Schumacher, Smith Slep, & Heyman, 2001), as well as criminal involvement, substance abuse, conduct disorder, and antisocial personality disorder (Lewis, 2010; Shaeffer et al, 2003). …”

Diferencias neuropsicológicas, biográficas, psicológicas, familiares y comunitarias, entre adolescentes con y sin trastorno disocial

“…Haggerty, Nevid y Moulton (1998), por ejemplo, compararon 36 adolescentes mujeres con TD y TND, con 40 adolescentes normales, encontrando entre las primeras niveles más altos de ansiedad y un menor desempeño en fluidez verbal, aunque no encontraron diferencias en la resolución cognitiva de problemas interpersonales. Lewis (2010) halló una mayor prevalencia vida de TD y su progresión hacia el trastorno de personalidad antisocial y los trastornos por sustancias, en un grupo de mujeres adultas encarceladas, lo que indica que las mujeres con TD también tendrían un alto riesgo de presentar estos dos trastornos en la vida adulta, como los varones con dicho desorden (Keenan et al, 1999;Fairchild et al, 2013).…”