Childhood Head Injury as an Acquired Neuropsychological Risk Factor for Adolescent Delinquency

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to parse out the effects of childhood head injury (HI) as an acquired neuropsychological deficit that impacts adolescent delinquent behavior, while accounting for other early-life risk factors and potential temporal ordering. Methods Nationally representative prospective data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; N = 13,287) and a series of logistic and binomial regressions are used to examine the relationship between early-life risk factors, HI, and adolescent delinquent behavior. Methodological considerations from clinical HI research, such as the use of an orthopedic injury comparison group, are incorporated. Results Findings are consistent with the conceptualization of HI as an acquired neuropsychological deficit, in that childhood HI increases the risk of early- and adolescent-onset delinquency, sustained delinquent behavior from childhood to early adolescence, and participation in a greater variety of delinquent behavior. Conclusions Childhood HI is relatively common, as over 27% of the sample reported at least one HI. The importance of HI as an acquired neuropsychological deficit and its relevance as a risk factor for later criminal behavior is reiterated. Future research should examine the importance of developmental period effects and mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Head Injury and Antisocial Personality Features in a Sample of Juvenile Detainees

“…The current study aimed to examine the common and unique associations between head injury and antisocial personality features in adolescence among a sample of juvenile justice involved youth. While existing evidence suggests that head injury is associated with general delinquency (Connolly & McCormick, 2019; Mongilio, 2022) and aggressive offending (Schwartz, 2021), less is known about whether head injury is related to other symptoms robustly correlated with future ASPD, such as failure to conform to social norms, deceitfulness, failure to plan, a reckless disregard for others, irresponsibility, and lack of remorse. As assessment of these characteristics are commonly used in many juvenile justice youth assessment instruments and argued to be predictive of future problematic behavior and offending (Skodol & Oldham, 2021; Livanou et al, 2019), thus a better understanding of the underlying factors associated with these problems could help create more targeted prevention and intervention programming.…”

“…According to the American Psychological Association, antisocial personality features manifests in "repeated violations of the law, exploitation of others, deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggressiveness, reckless disregard for the safety of self and others, and irresponsibility, accompanied by lack of guilt, remorse, and empathy" (APA, 2020). Head injuries may have adverse effects on the development of self-control, which is related to a range of antisocial behaviors (Mongilio, 2022;Schwartz et al, 2017) and externalizing as well as internalizing problems (Connolly & McCormick, 2019;McCormick et al, 2021). As one study concluded, "head injury may play a significant role in blunting the decline in impulsivity across development, exposing an additional risk factor for antisocial behavior" (Fullerton et al, 2019(Fullerton et al, , p. 1035).…”

“…A growing body of research suggests that incarcerated individuals and juvenile justice involved youth are more likely to suffer from a head injury than members of the general public (Farrer & Hedges, 2011; Hughes et al, 2015; Mongilio, 2022). While this area of empirical inquiry is currently in its infancy, there are a few reasons to suspect that individuals involved in the justice system may be more likely to have a history of head injury.…”

“…These outcomes are common amongst juvenile justice involved youth (Veeh et al, 2018). Head injuries have been linked to a host of problematic behavioral and mental health outcomes including aggression, symptoms of anxiety and depression, neurodegenerative disorders, and cognitive problems (Schwartz et al, 2019; see also Mongilio, 2022; McCormick et al, 2021). Second, prior research has documented that head injuries are more strongly tied to aggression and violence, as well as the persistence of violent behavior from adolescence to young adulthood (Schwartz, 2021).…”

Linked head injury and conduct problem symptom pathways from early childhood to adolescence and their associated risks: Evidence from the millennium cohort study

“…The consequences of both conduct problems and head injuries are well known and include increased likelihood of delinquency and criminal behavior (Kennedy et al, 2017;Mongilio, 2022). A better understanding of how their pathways link during development is therefore important for intervention and prevention practices aimed at jointly reducing both.…”