Adverse childhood experiences and delinquent behaviour: Predictors and mediating variables

Authors

  • Sónia Maria Martins Caridade University Fernando Pessoa (UFP),Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Porto 4249-004, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0387-7900
  • Joana Sofia Teles Oliveira Lusófona University of Porto (ULP), Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports,Rua Augusto Rosa 24, 4000-098 Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2051-3738
  • Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis University Fernando Pessoa (UFP)UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), Praça 9 de Abril 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2198-6740
  • Hélder Fernando Pedrosa E Sousa University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Department of Mathematics (DM. UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2952-8859
  • Andreia de Paiva Ribeiro de Moura Lusófona University of Porto (ULP), Digital Human-Environment Interaction Lab (HEI-Lab),Rua Augusto Rosa 24, 4000-098 Porto, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4836-3794

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15761/0101-60830000000284

Keywords:

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), Delinquent behaviour (DB), Antisocial traits (AT), Mediating variables, Exposure to traumatic events (ETE)

Abstract

 Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been identified as a risk factor for the development of mental health and behavioural outcomes throughout life, including delinquent behaviours. This article focuses on the relationship between ACEs and delinquent behaviour (DB), seeking to identify predictors and mediating variables. Methods: The quantitative study comprised 175 Portuguese adolescents, aged 12 and 17 years of age (M = 14.99, SD = 2.26). Results: ACEs and exposure to traumatic events (ETE) are predictive of DB. Antisocial traits (AT) was found to be mediating the relationship between ACEs and DB, as well as the relation between ETE and DB. Conclusion: The results indicate that it is necessary that professionals in health behaviour field prevent and intervene in ACEs and in ETE, both predictors of DB. The results of this study allow to understand the role of ACEs in DB and its mediating variables, which must be considered to mitigate the harmful impact of ACEs in DB.

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Author Biographies

  • Sónia Maria Martins Caridade, University Fernando Pessoa (UFP),Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Porto 4249-004, Portugal.

    PhD in Forensic and Legal Psychology at the School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. Researcher at the Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies (CIEG) of the Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ISCSP-UL). She is Director of the Degree in Psychology, Coordinator for Academic Mobility at the UM School of Psychology and Coordinator of Internships in the Masters in Psychology of Justice at UM. Researcher integrating the project Looking at Crime: Communities and Physical Spaces (LookCrim), financed by National Funds through Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under PTDC/DIR-DCP/28120/2017. Her research interests include dating violence and cyber dating violence (adult and youth), delinquency and behavior problems, and has authored several national and international publications on this topic.

  • Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis, University Fernando Pessoa (UFP)UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), Praça 9 de Abril 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal.

    Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis, Habilitation, PhD, MSc (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2198-6740 / https://www.cienciavitae.pt/4710-147D-FDAF) is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology (http://fct.ufp.pt/en/), University Fernando Pessoa (http://www.ufp.pt/), Porto, Portugal. Graduated in Metallurgical Engineering (1992) and Master Science in Materials Engineering (1995) at the Faculty of Engineering (http://www.fe.up.pt), University of Porto (https://sigarra.up.pt/up/en/), Portugal. PhD in Earth Sciences (2010) and Habilitation in Ecology and Environmental Health (2023) at the Faculty of Science and Technology (http://fct.ufp.pt/), University Fernando Pessoa (http://www.ufp.pt/), Portugal. Co-Coordinator of the Earth Sciences doctoral program (https://www.ufp.pt/inicio/estudar-e-investigar/doutoramentos/ciencias-da-terra/). Researcher at Fernando Pessoa Research, Innovation and Development Institute (FP-I3ID) (https://www.fundacaofernandopessoa.pt/fp-i3id) and Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente/Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), University of Coimbra (https://www.mare-centre.pt/en/) in environment-related topics. Experienced author, editor and reviewer. Sustainability expertise

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Published

2021-02-12

Issue

Vol. 48 No. 2 (2021)

Section

Original Articles

License

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How to Cite

Adverse childhood experiences and delinquent behaviour: Predictors and mediating variables. (2021). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 48(2), 75-82. https://doi.org/10.15761/0101-60830000000284