title: Self-reported physical and emotional abuse among youth offenders and their association with internalizing and externalizing psychopathology: a preliminary study.
abstract: The aim of this exploratory study was twofold. First, the severity of physical and emotional abuse perpetrated by parents and its association with internalizing and externalizing problems were explored in a sample of 104 male and female youth offenders. Second, we tested the moderate effect of callous-unemotional traits on the relation between physical and emotional victimization and internalizing and externalizing problems in boys. The analyses revealed that a high percentage of youth offenders reported having been physically abused. More severe physical abuse was not related to higher levels of internalizing or externalizing problems. Young offenders' emotional abuse levels were low; however, this type of abuse was positively associated with externalizing problems among boys, regardless of the level of callous-unemotional traits. Thus, we suggest that youth offenders must be assessed using measures of physical and emotional abuse, and their case management should integrate specific programs to focus on the family environment to which the adolescents will most likely return after their sentence.
authors: University of Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Teresa C
authors: TC
authors: Silva
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Graña
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: González-Cieza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019090:Case Management; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011792:Quebec; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: callous-unemotional traits; emotional abuse; externalizing problems; internalizing problems; physical abuse