Gender Differences in Mental Health Symptoms Among Delinquent and Community Youth

Abstract

Although research indicates that female offenders demonstrate higher rates of mental health symptoms than male offenders, the lack of data on directly comparable groups of delinquent and community youths has limited this comparison. The current study includes adolescents detained in juvenile detention facilities (girls = 157; boys = 276) or who resided in the community (girls = 193; boys = 242) from four different geographical locales. Results indicate that the relative magnitude of gender differences was greater in detained youths than in community youths, with detained girls exhibiting greater levels of symptomatology than would be predicted on the basis of gender or setting alone. Although it may be self-evident that detained populations exhibit higher levels of externalizing problems than community populations, the present study helps to quantify such differences by using common measures and demographically matched samples and demonstrates that detained versus community differences are larger among girls than among boys.

Mental Health Screening Outcomes Among Justice-Involved Youths Under Community Supervision

“…The present results are consistent with others (Abram et al, 2003;Cauffman, 2004;Cauffman, Lexcen, Goldweber, Shulman, & Grisso, 2007;Maschi, Stimmel, Morgen, Gibson, & O'Mary, 2012;Teplin et al, 2012) in showing a higher prevalence of diagnostic flags among girls than boys. One exception is that the present analysis did not find a gender difference in substance use as did Cauffman (2004) and Teplin et al (2012).…”

“…This finding points to a gender difference in not only the quantity but also the quality, and possibly the developmental trajectory, of comorbidity (Angold et al, 1999). It is not clear why justice-involved girls are more likely than justice-involved boys to receive a clinical diagnosis (for a more in-depth discussion of this issue see Cauffman et al, 2007). Whatever the case, the present results speak to the need for gender-specific intervention programming advocated by many (Hennessey et al, 2004).…”

Obstacles to Research in Residential Juvenile Justice Facilities: Recommendations for Researchers

“…The participant advocate should not be connected to the research team, but should be someone who can act in the best interest of the youths. A waiver of parental permission with accompanying inclusion of a participant advocate is an enrollment approach that has been employed successfully in multiple studies (e.g., Cauffman et al, 2007;Goldstein et al, 2011;Teplin et al, 2002;Woolard, Harvell, & Graham, 2008). Referencing the prior approval and successful use of this approach may enhance IRB review of these procedures and facilitate the approval process.…”

The Relationship Between Matching Service to Criminogenic Need and Recidivism in Male and Female Youth

“…Proponents of the gender-responsive approach have long highlighted the importance of these gender-specific/salient factors. Factors such as victimization and abuse, trauma, pervasive mental health concerns, family dynamics, and availability of social supports Cauffman, Lexcen, Goldweber, Shulman, & Grisso, 2007;Douglas & Plugge, 2008;Gavazzi et al, 2006;Odgers et al, 2005;Vannatta, 1996; have been suggested as important both theoretically and in numerous qualitative studies with justiceinvolved youth and adult female samples. The primary criticism of these findings has been that while the factors identified in this literature are important for general mental and social health, they have not been empirically linked to reoffending.…”