Correlations among self-esteem, aggression, adverse childhood experiences and depression in inmates of a female juvenile correctional facility in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the following hypothesis: (i) Self-esteem and aggressiveness, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), and a depressive tendency interact with each other. (ii) The subjects show a strong depressive tendency, and each of the other factors exerts a main effect on, and interacts with, the depressive tendency.


METHODS
The subjects were 91 juveniles (all female) admitted to a female juvenile correctional facility between November 2005 and December 2006. They were aged 15-19 years, with a mean age of 17.0 (SD = 1.18) years. Self-esteem scale, aggression scale, ACE questionnaire, and depression scale were conducted.


RESULTS
Significant main effects (R(2) = 0.50, P < 0.001) on the depression score were observed in self-esteem (beta = -0.41, P < 0.001) and aggression (beta = 0.21, P < 0.05). Self-esteem, aggression, ACE, and depression were found to be interrelated.


CONCLUSIONS
Low self-esteem was also shown to exert marked effects on various factors. About half of the inmates of the facility were depressed, and the main effects of self-esteem, aggression, and the ACE score were shown to influence the depression score.
Matsuura
Naomi
N
School of Education, Tokyo University of Social Welfare, Tokyo. matuuranaomi@yahoo.co.jp
Hashimoto
Toshiaki
T
Toichi
Motomi
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires