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Child / Adolescent - Externalizing

Juvenile legal system involvement among a population of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents

(PS6-17) Juvenile Legal System Involvement Among a Population of Psychiatrically Hospitalized Adolescents

Friday, November 15, 2024

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown

Author(s)

EO

Emily F. Olenik, B.A.

Clinical Research Assistant
Rhode Island Hospital/Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Co-Author(s)

Danae Papadea, M.A.

Clinical Research Assistant
Rhode Island Hospital/Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
ST

Sarah Thomas, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor (Research)
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
JW

Jennifer C. Wolff, Ph.D.

Research Scientist/Assistant Professor
Rhode Island Hospital/Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Elizabeth Thompson, Ph.D.

Research Scientist/Assistant Professor
Rhode Island Hospital/Alpert Medical School of Brown University
North Smithfield, Rhode Island, United States

Abstract Text: A growing body of research has focused on the juvenile legal system (JLS), with evidence suggesting that youths with JLS involvement experience increased rates of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). JLS-involved youth often have psychiatric concerns alongside, and potentially contributing to, legal issues. Correlates of JLS involvement in youth include disruptive disorder, family substance abuse history, and history of aggressive behavior. The current study explored the association between ACEs and JLS involvement in a sample of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents, controlling for factors linked to JLS involvement such as difficulties with emotion regulation, anger, past 30 day cannabis use, and biological sex. Additionally, this study aimed to look at different mental health and functioning characteristics across JLS involved and non-JLS involved groups. We hypothesized that (a) greater endorsement of ACEs would be associated with JLS involvement, accounting for the influence of emotion regulation, anger, past 30 day cannabis use, and biological sex, and (b) adolescents with a history of JLS involvement would exhibit more mental health related impairment in several mental health and functioning domains. A total of 657 adolescents completed a battery of measures upon hospital admission. Baseline self-report measures included a demographic questionnaire, questions about substance use and JLS involvement (rated yes/no), and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and PROMIS item banks which measured childhood experiences, emotion regulation, and domains of mental health respectively. Results of logistic regression analyses showed that ACEs (𝛽 = 0.12, p = < .001, OR = 1.13) was significantly related to JLS involvement, beyond the effects of difficulties with emotion regulation (𝛽 = -0.02, p = .002, OR = 0.97), anger (𝛽 = 0.03, p = .002, OR = 1.03), past 30 day cannabis use (𝛽 = 0.97, p = < .001, OR = 2.64), and biological sex (𝛽 = -0.89, p = < .001, OR = 0.41). A series of independent samples t-tests were conducted to compare means of various mental health and functioning outcomes based on youth JLS involvement. Findings showed that there were significant differences between adolescents who reported JLS involvement and those who did not, with JLS-involved youths reporting significantly higher ACEs (t677 = 4.96, p = < .001), difficulties with impulse control (t673 = 3.03, p = .003), anger (t673 = 2.26, p = .024), past 30 day cannabis use (t672 = 5.77, p = < .001), and lower perceived access to emotion regulation strategies (t671 =-2.90, p = 0.004). No significant differences were found between groups for stress, depression, sleep issues, and peer relationships. These findings demonstrate the unique link between ACEs and JLS involvement and characterize significant differences in psychiatric presentations between hospitalized youths with and without a history of JLS involvement. Taken together, these findings highlight potential intervention points and treatment targets for youth with trauma and JLS histories, which may improve mental health outcomes and help reduce risk of further contact with the JLS system.