PART 2: COHORT STUDIES
B10 Christchurch Health and Development Study
COHORT STUDIES
Christchurch Health and Development Study
RESEARCH
Done by: Christchurch Health and Development Study, and Christchurch School of Medicine
Funded by: Medical Research Council, Health Research Council, Lottery Health, National Child Health Research Foundation, Canterbury Medical Research Society, and Government Departments
Method: Quantitative study, Cohort study
Status: IN PROGRESS, expected completion date 2001
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: A latent class model of child offending
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., L.J. Horwood and M. Lloyd
Completed: YES,
Availability: Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 1991; 1:90-106
Description: ABSTRACT. A latent class model is proposed to estimate the magnitude and direction of errors of measurement in reports of young offending. It is shown that, subject to the availability of information from reports of offending behaviour by two sources and information on a known predictor of offending, it is possible to fit models which estimate the magnitude of errors of reporting and the true prevalence of offending. This model is applied to self-report data collected for over 700 New Zealand 12-year-old children. This analysis suggested that under-reporting of offending was very high and it was estimated that over 50% of children who offended failed to report offending. The analysis is extended to show that the consequences of errors in reporting behaviour are to lead to a serious under-estimation of the strength of relationships between risks of offending and predictor variables. The implications of these results for the interpretation of report statistics are discussed.
Keywords: crime statistics, criminal behaviour, offenders, reporting of offending, youth
Notes:
Title: Patterns of cannabis use among 13-14 year old New Zealanders
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., M.T. Lynskey and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: New Zealand Medical Journal, 1993; 106:247-50
Description: ABSTRACT. Aims. The aims of this study were to document the prevalence and frequency of use of cannabis, the sources of supply of cannabis and reactions to cannabis use in a sample of 949 Christchurch born children studied to the age of 15 years. Method. Data on cannabis use was collected on the basis of parental and self report at ages 14 and 15 years. Results. By the age of 15 years, 9.8% of this cohort had used cannabis on one or more occasions and 2.2% of the cohort reported using cannabis on more than 10 occasions. Rates of cannabis use amongst boys and girls were identical. Most of those using cannabis had been provided with the drug by same aged or older teenagers and in most cases it was supplied free. In most cases cannabis was used in small informal groups of 2-8 young people. The majority of cannabis users (75.3%) reported positive reactions to cannabis use and many (58%) said that they would use cannabis again. However, just under one third (30.9%) of users reported some adverse reaction to cannabis use including being ill, dizzy or frightened. Conclusions. By the age of 15 years approximately 10% of young people reported using cannabis. This rate of utilisation appears to be supported by the presence of informal peer networks which provide a source of supply and support for young people experimenting with the use of cannabis. It is conjectured that the source of supply for these informal networks reflects a trickle down of the relatively large amounts of cannabis which circulate amongst adolescent and young adult populations.
Keywords: criminal behaviour, drugs, offenders, youth
Notes:
Title: The effects of conduct disorder and attention deficit in middle childhood on offending and scholastic ability at age 13
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., L.J. Horwood and M.T. Lynskey
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1993; 34(6):899-916
Description: ABSTRACT. The relationship between conduct disorder and attention deficit behaviours in middle childhood (6, 8 and 10 years) and juvenile offending and academic achievement was examined in a birth cohort of New Zealand children. The application of structural equation modelling methods suggested that early behavioural tendencies are related to later developmental outcomes by two highly correlated but distinct developmental progressions. In the first such progression, early conduct disorder behaviours acted as a precursor of future offending patterns but these behaviours were unrelated to later school performance when the correlation between conduct disorder and attention deficit was taken into account. In the second developmental progression early attentional/cognitive behaviours were related to future school performance but were unrelated to the development of antisocial behaviours when the correlations between conduct disorder and cognitive/attentional variables were taken into account. The implications of these findings for validating the distinction between conduct disorder and attention deficit behaviours is discussed and the problems of analysing and explaining the high comorbidity between conduct disorder and attention deficit behaviours are considered.
Keywords: attention deficit disorder, conduct disorder, cognitive development, criminal behaviour, juvenile offending, longitudinal study, offenders, scholastic ability, youth
Notes:
Title: The comorbidities of adolescent problem behaviours: a latent class model
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., L.J. Horwood and M.T. Lynskey
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1994; 22(3):339-54
Description: ABSTRACT. The correlations and comorbidities of a series of adolescent problem behaviours were studied in a sample of 739 New Zealand 15-year-olds. This analysis revealed the presence of strong comorbidities between different problem behaviours. The data were modelled using methods of unrestricted latent class analysis and this suggested that the best fitting model to describe the data was one which assumed that adolescent problem behaviours were described by four general classes of children. While the same general four-class model applied to males and females, there were marked gender differences in the rates of problems. Specifically, the predominant problem behaviours in females were those related to an accelerated transition to adulthood marked by early sexual activity, alcohol abuse, and cannabis use, whereas the predominant problems for boys were related to antisocial and law-breaking behaviours. Rates of children with no problems (85%) and with multiple problems (3%) were similar for boys and girls.
Keywords: alcohol, cannabis, criminal behaviour, drugs, offenders, youth
Notes:
Title: Alcohol consumption and associated problems in a birth cohort of
15 year olds
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., M.T. Lynskey and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: New Zealand Medical Journal, 1994; 107:167-70
Description: ABSTRACT. Aims. This study documents patterns of alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse in a birth cohort of 965 Christchurch born children studied to the age of 15 years. Additionally, the study documents the associations between measures of alcohol consumption and a range of other aspects of adolescent development. Method. Data on patterns of alcohol use, alcohol related problems and other aspects of adolescent development were collected at age 15 years on the basis of self report, parental reports and official records. Results. For most sample members the consumption of alcohol was both infrequent (28.4% were classified as non-drinkers and 23.9% had drunk alcohol only once or twice in the preceding year) and moderate. However, 6.7% reported weekly drinking and 3.3%-6.8% of the sample reported drinking the equivalent of at least 90 mL of pure alcohol on the last or typical drinking occasion. 19.1% of the sample reported experiencing problems as a result of their drinking and 4.9% of the sample met criteria for alcohol abuse. Measures of alcohol consumption were found to be highly associated with measures of daily cigarette smoking, cannabis use, sexual activity, police contact, and depression. Conclusions. While overall levels of alcohol consumption in this cohort were moderate there was evidence of a minority of adolescents who consumed alcohol frequently, in large amounts or who experienced alcohol related problems. Measures of frequent, heavy or problem alcohol use were found to be highly associated with a range of other aspects of adolescent development.
Keywords: alcohol, criminal behaviour, offenders, police, youth
Notes:
Title: Truancy in adolescents
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., M.T. Lynskey and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 1995; 30(1):25-38
Description: ABSTRACT. This paper examines the development of truancy in a birth cohort of 935 Christchurch born children studied between the ages of 12 to 16 years. The analyses showed that: a) truancy in this cohort was common with just under 40% of adolescents reporting truancy by the age of 16 years; b) rates of truancy rose almost exponentially during the period from 12 to 16 years with rates of truancy amongst 16 year olds (30.2%) being ten times higher than in 12 year olds (3.0%); c) there was a spectrum of truancy ranging from those who showed infrequent or occasional truancy to those who showed severe and recurrent truancy - 7.1% of the sample were identified as severe truants who had truanted on more than 30 occasions (median = 80) between 14 and 16 years of age; d) truancy was more common amongst children reared in disadvantaged or dysfunctional homes and children who showed early onset conduct problems; e) there were clear associations between the extent of truancy in adolescence and other aspects of adolescent adjustment including conduct problems, juvenile offending, police contact, substance use behaviours, low self esteem, mood disorders and suicidal behaviours/ideation. The implications of these findings for contemporary concerns about rising rates of truancy and other problem behaviours in secondary school pupils are discussed.
Keywords: criminal behaviour, drugs, police, truancy, youth
Notes:
Title: Childhood conduct problems and attention deficit behaviours and adolescent alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use
Author(s): Lynskey, M.T. and D.M. Fergusson
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1995; 23(3):281-302
Description: ABSTRACT. The relationships between conduct problems and attention deficit behaviours at age 8 years and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs at 15 years were studied in a birth cohort of over 900 New Zealand children. The analysis showed that while early conduct problems were significantly associated with later substance use there were no significant associations between early attention deficit behaviours and later substance use once the correlations between conduct problems and attention deficit behaviours were taken into account. These associations persisted after control for a range of potentially confounding covariates. Children who showed tendencies to conduct problems at age 8 consumed 1.5 to 1.9 times more alcohol and had rates of alcohol-related problems, daily cigarette smoking, and illicit drug use that were 1.9 to 2.0 times higher than children with low conduct problem scores. It is concluded that attention deficit behaviours, in the absence of conduct problems, are not associated with later substance abuse. However, even when due allowance is made for social and contextual factors associated with both early conduct problems and later substance use, early conduct problems are a risk factor for later substance abuse.
Keywords: alcohol, attention deficit behaviours, cigarette smoking, drugs, youth
Notes:
Title: Alcohol misuse and juvenile offending in adolescence
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., M.T. Lynskey and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: Addiction, 1996; 91(4):483-94
Description: ABSTRACT. The associations between alcohol misuse and juvenile offending during the period from 15 to 16 years were studied in a birth cohort of New Zealand adolescents. This analysis showed that young people who misused alcohol had significantly (p<.001) higher rates of both violent and property offences. These associations were similar for males and females. Further analysis suggested that a substantial component of the association between alcohol misuse and juvenile offending arose from shared risk factors that were common to both outcomes. These risk factors included measures of family social background, family and parental characteristics, individual characteristics and adolescent peer affiliations. After adjustment for antecedent risk factors there was no significant association between alcohol misuse and odds of property offences. However, young people who abused alcohol had odds of violent offending that were 3.2 times (p<.001) the odds of those offences for young people who did not misuse alcohol. It is concluded: a) that a large component of the association between alcohol misuse and juvenile offending arises because of the effects of shared risk factors that are associated with both outcomes; b) nonetheless, the unexplained association between alcohol misuse and violent offending may suggest the presence of a direct cause and effect association in which adolescent alcohol misuse is associated with increased risks of violent offending.
Keywords: alcohol, criminal behaviour, juvenile offending, offenders, violent crime, youth
Notes:
Title: Ethnicity and bias in police contact statistics
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., L.J. Horwood and M.T. Lynskey
Completed: YES
Availability: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 1993; 26:193-206
Description: ABSTRACT. The relationships between ethnicity, self/parentally reported offending and rates of police contact were examined in a birth cohort of Christchurch (New Zealand) born children studied to the age of 15 years. This analysis suggested that whilst children of Maori/Pacific Island descent offended at a significantly higher rate than European (Pakeha) children, there were clear differences in the magnitude of ethnic differentials in offending depending on the way in which offending was measured. On the basis of self/parentally reported offending, children of Maori/Pacific Island descent offended at about 1.7 times the rate of Pakeha children. However, on the basis of police contact statistics these children were 2.9 times more likely to come to police attention than Pakeha children. These differences between self/parentally reported offending rates and rates of police contact could not be explained by the fact that Maori/Pacific Island children offended more often or committed different types of offences than Pakeha children. Logistic modelling of the data suggested that children of Maori/Pacific Island descent were in the region of 2.4 times more likely to come to official police attention than Pakeha children with an identical self/parental reported history of offending. These results are generally consistent with the hypothesis that official police contact statistics contain a bias which exaggerates the differences in the rate of offending by children of Maori/Pacific Island descent and Pakeha children.
Keywords: bias, ethnic issues, Maori, offenders, Pacific Islands peoples, police, youth
Notes:
Title: Ethnicity, social background and young offending: a 14 year longitudinal study
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., L.J. Horwood and M.T. Lynskey
Completed: YES
Availability: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 1993; 26:155-70
Description: ABSTRACT. The relationship between ethnicity and rates of violent, property and other offences based on self-report and parental report data was studied for a birth cohort of Christchurch born children. The results show that on the basis of report data, children of Maori ethnicity had significantly (p<.05) higher rates of offending than children of Pakeha (European) ethnicity with these rates being from 1.45 to 2.25 times higher than for Pakeha children. However, after adjustment for a series of social and contextual factors including maternal age, maternal educational levels, family socio-economic status, family living standards and early childhood environment factors, these associations reduced so that children of Maori or Pacific Island ethnicity had risks of offending which ranged from 1.08 to 1.55 times higher than children of Pakeha ethnicity. In four of the five comparisons made there was no significant relationship between ethnicity and offending after adjustment for these social and contextual factors. The implications of these findings for the interpretation of ethnic differences in rates of offending are examined with particular attention being given to labelling, socio-economic and cultural explanations of these differences.
Keywords: ethnic issues, Maori, offences, offenders, Pacific Islands peoples, police, property offences, violent crime, youth
Notes:
Title: The short term consequences of early onset cannabis use
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., M.T. Lynskey and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1996; 24(4):499-512
Description: ABSTRACT. The associations between early onset (prior to 15 years of age) cannabis use and rates of mental health or adjustment problems during the period from 15 to 16 years of age were studied in a New Zealand birth cohort. Early onset cannabis users were at increased risks of later substance use behaviours, conduct/oppositional disorders, juvenile offending, severe truancy, school dropout, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Early cannabis users had odds of these outcomes ranging from 2.7 to 30.8 times higher than the odds for those who did not use cannabis prior to age 15. Most of the elevated risks of early onset users were explained by the fact that they were a high-risk group of adolescents characterised by family disadvantages, early adjustment problems, and high affiliations with substance-using or delinquent peers. Nonetheless, even after adjustment for a wide range of confounding factors, early onset users had increased risks of later cannabis use. It is concluded that while most of the elevated risks of early onset users were explained by social, family, and individual characteristics of this group, early onset users were at increased risks of later cannabis use.
Keywords: criminal behaviour, drugs, juvenile offending, mental health, offences, truancy, youth
Notes:
Title: The childhoods of multiple problem adolescents: a 15-year longitudinal study
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., L.J. Horwood and M.T. Lynskey
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1994; 35(6) 1123-40
Description: ABSTRACT. This paper examines the life history of a small group of adolescents (3%) who were identified during the course of a longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand children as displaying multiple problem behaviours at the age of 15 years. This group was characterised by conduct disorder, police contact, substance abuse behaviours, early onset sexual activity, suicidal ideation, mood disorders and lowered self esteem. Statistical biographies of this group of young people showed that many were the offspring of seriously disadvantaged, dysfunctional and disorganised home environments. The implications of these findings for the understanding and treatment of multiple problem behaviours in adolescence are discussed.
Keywords: alcohol, criminal behaviour, disadvantage, drugs, offenders, mental health, substance abuse, youth
Notes:
Title: Conduct problems and attention deficits in middle childhood and cannabis use by age 15
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., M.T. Lynskey and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 1993; 27:673-82
Description: ABSTRACT. The relationship between conduct problems and attention deficit behaviours at ages 6, 8, 10 and 12 years and the early onset of cannabis usage by the age of 15 years was studied in a birth cohort of New Zealand children. The analysis showed that while conduct problems during middle childhood were significantly associated with later cannabis use (p<.05) there was no association between early attention deficit behaviours and cannabis use (p>.40) when the associations between conduct problems and attention deficit behaviours were taken into account. It was estimated that children who showed tendencies to conduct disorder behaviour in middle childhood were between 2.1 to 2.7 times more likely to engage in early cannabis use than children not prone to conduct problems even when a range of factors including family social background, parental separation and parental conflict were taken into account. It is concluded that early conduct disorder behaviours are a risk factor for later cannabis use when due allowance is made for social and contextual factors associated with both early conduct problems and later cannabis use.
Keywords: attention deficit behaviour, cannabis, conduct problems, drugs, youth
Notes:
Title: Early disruptive behaviour, IQ and later school achievement and delinquent behaviour
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M. and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1995; 23(2):183-99
Description: ABSTRACT. A series of structural equation models is developed to examine the relationship between early externalising behaviours (conduct problems, attention deficit) and IQ measured at age 8 years, academic achievement over the period 10-13 years and delinquent behaviour to the age of 15 in a birth cohort of New Zealand children. These models indicated that early externalising behaviours and IQ were related to later academic achievement and delinquent behaviour by two quite distinct but highly correlated developmental sequences. In one sequence early conduct problems were predictive of later delinquency but were not directly related to later academic achievement. In the other sequence, attention deficit and IQ were prognostic of later school achievement but were not directly related to delinquency. Further, the apparent correlations between academic achievement and delinquency were adequately explained by the common and correlated effects of early behaviour and IQ on later achievement and delinquency. These conclusions remained unchanged when the sample was stratified by gender, and when further explanatory factors were introduced into the model.
Keywords: attention deficit behaviours, childhood conduct problems, delinquency, criminal behaviour, education, youth
Notes:
Title: The role of adolescent peer affiliations in the continuity between childhood behavioural adjustment and juvenile offending
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M. and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1996; 24:205-22
Description: ABSTRACT. This research reports on a structural equation model analysis of the relationships between childhood behavioural adjustment, adolescent peer affiliations, and adolescent offending using data gathered during the course of a 16-year long longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand children. The model developed contained parameters that estimated (a) the continuities between early behaviour and later offending, (b) the associations between early behaviour and adolescent peer affiliations, (c) the potentially reciprocal relationship between adolescent peer affiliations and adolescent offending behaviours. This analysis suggested that, when due allowance was made for reporting error, there was evidence of relatively strong continuity (r = .50) between early behaviour and later offending. The model estimates suggested that these continuities arose from both direct continuities in behaviour over time and from the effects of adolescent peer affiliations in reinforcing and sustaining earlier behavioural tendencies. The implications of the analysis for the understanding of the role of adolescent peer affiliations in behavioural continuities and discontinuities are discussed.
Keywords: adolescent peer affiliations, childhood criminal behaviour, juvenile offending, offenders, youth
Notes:
Title: Childhood sexual abuse and psychiatric disorders in young adulthood: Part I: the prevalence of sexual abuse and the factors associated with sexual abuse
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., M.T. Lynskey and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: Accepted for publication in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Description: Objective. This paper presents accounts of: a) the prevalence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA); and b) social, family and related factors which are associated with increased risks of CSA using data gathered during an 18 year longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort. Method. A birth cohort of over 1,000 Christchurch (New Zealand) born children was studied prospectively to the age of 16. At age 18 retrospective reports of CSA were obtained. Results. 10.4% of the cohort (17.3% of females and 3.4% of males) reported having experienced CSA before the age of 16 years. Rates of severe abusive experiences involving intercourse were lower: 5.6% of females and 1.4% of males reported abuse involving attempted or completed intercourse. Multivariate analyses suggested that risks of CSA were elevated amongst females (p<.0001), those exposed to high levels of marital conflict (p<.005), those reporting low parental attachment (p<.001), those reporting high levels of paternal over protection (p<.005) and those with parents who reported alcoholism/alcohol problems (p<.05). The level of prediction of CSA from childhood and family factors was not sufficient to identify individuals at risk of CSA with any degree of accuracy. Conclusions. CSA was not an uncommon experience amongst this cohort. Those most likely to be exposed to CSA were girls reared in families characterised by high levels of marital conflict, impaired parenting and in families having parents with adjustment problems.
Keywords: childhood sexual abuse, prevalence, psychiatric disorder, victims, youth
Notes:
Title: Childhood sexual abuse and psychiatric disorders in young adulthood: Part II: psychiatric outcomes of sexual abuse
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., L.J. Horwood and M.T. Lynskey
Completed: YES
Availability: Accepted for publication in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Description: Objective. This is the second in a series of papers that describe the prevalence, correlates and consequences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in a birth cohort of over 1,000 New Zealand children studied to the age of 18 years. This paper examines the associations between reports of CSA at age 18 and DSM-IV diagnostic classifications at age 18. Method. A birth cohort of New Zealand children was studied at annual intervals from birth to age 16 years. At age 18 years retrospective reports of CSA prior to 16 and concurrently measured psychiatric symptoms were obtained. Results. Those reporting CSA had higher rates of major depression, anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, substance use disorder and suicidal behaviours than those not reporting CSA (p<.002). There were consistent relationships between the extent of CSA and risks of disorder with those reporting CSA involving intercourse having the highest risks of disorder. These results persisted when findings were adjusted for prospectively measured childhood family and related factors. Similar but less marked relationships between CSA and non-concurrently measured disorders were found. Conclusions. The findings suggest that CSA, and particularly severe CSA, was associated with increased risks of psychiatric disorder in young adults even when due allowance was made for prospectively measured confounding factors.
Keywords: childhood sexual abuse, mental health, victims, youth
Notes:
Title: Childhood sexual abuse, adolescent sexual behaviours and sexual revictimisation
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., L.J. Horwood and M.T. Lynskey
Completed: YES
Availability: Submitted to: Pediatrics. Available from authors, Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine, P O Box 4345, Christchurch.
Description: Objective. The aims of this study were to examine the extent to which exposure to childhood sexual abuse [CSA] was associated with increased rates of sexual risk taking behaviours and sexual revictimisation during adolescence. Method. A birth cohort of 520 New Zealand born young women was studied at regular intervals from birth to the age of 18. At age 18 retrospective reports of CSA were obtained from sample members. Over the course of the 18 year study information was gathered on: a) childhood, family and related circumstances; and b) the young women's history of sexual experiences from 14 to 18 years. Results. Young women reporting CSA, and particularly severe CSA involving intercourse, had significantly higher rates of: early onset consensual sexual activity; teenage pregnancy; multiple sexual partners; unprotected intercourse; sexually transmitted disease; and sexual assault after the age of 16. Logistic regression analyses suggested that the associations between CSA and sexual outcomes in adolescence arose by two routes. Firstly, exposure to CSA was associated with a series of childhood and family factors including social disadvantage, family instability, impaired parent child relationships and parental adjustment difficulties that were also associated with increased sexual vulnerability in adolescence. Secondly, there appeared to be a causal chain relationship between CSA and sexual experiences in which CSA was associated with early onset sexual activity which, in turn, led to heightened risks of other adverse outcomes in adolescence. Conclusions. The findings of this study suggest that those exposed to CSA have greater sexual vulnerability during adolescence. This appears to arise because: a) the childhood and family factors that are associated with CSA are also associated with increased sexual risks during adolescence; and b) exposure to CSA may encourage early onset sexual activity which places those exposed to CSA at greater sexual risk over the period of adolescence.
Keywords: childhood sexual abuse, revictimisation, victims, youth
Notes:
Title: The effects of unemployment on juvenile offending
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M., M.T. Lynskey and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: Submitted to: Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health.
Available from authors, Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of
Medicine,
P O Box 4345, Christchurch.
Description: ABSTRACT. This study examined the associations between duration of unemployment and a series of measures of young offending in a birth cohort of New Zealand children studied to the age of 18 years. Increasing duration of unemployment was significantly (p<.001) associated with a series of measures of young offending including violent offending, property offending, arrests, and convictions. Specifically, young people who had been unemployed for six months or longer had higher mean levels of offending and rates of property offending, violent offending, arrest and conviction that were 3.0 to 10.4 times higher than those of young people who had not been unemployed. However, unemployment was also associated with a range of adverse social, family, school, individual and related factors. When the associations between unemployment and criminal offending were adjusted for a range of measures assessed prior to school leaving age these associations were substantially reduced. However, even after adjustment for these factors, young people exposed to unemployment had significantly (p<.05) higher mean levels of property and violent offending and significantly (p<.05) higher rates of property offending, arrest and conviction. It is concluded that much of the association between unemployment and juvenile crime is likely to reflect common life course processes and factors that make young people vulnerable to both unemployment and criminal offending. However, exposure to unemployment following school leaving may be associated with increased risks of juvenile offending, and particularly property offending.
Keywords: criminal behaviour, juvenile offending, property offences, unemployment, violent crime, youth
Notes:
Title: Early onset cannabis use and psychosocial adjustment in young adults
Author(s): Fergusson, D.M. and L.J. Horwood
Completed: YES
Availability: Submitted to: Addiction. Available from authors, Christchurch Health and Development Study, Christchurch School of Medicine, P O Box 4345, Christchurch.
Description: ABSTRACT. The relationships between early onset (prior to 16) cannabis use and later psychosocial adjustment was examined in a birth cohort of New Zealand children studied to age 18. Early onset users had significantly higher rates of later substance abuse, juvenile offending, mental health problems, unemployment and school dropout. The linkages between early onset cannabis use and later outcomes were largely explained by two routes that linked cannabis use to later adjustment. Firstly, those electing to use cannabis were a high risk population characterised by social disadvantage, childhood adversity, early onset behavioural difficulties and adverse peer affiliations. Secondly, early onset cannabis use was associated with the development of anti-conventional lifestyles characterised by affiliations with delinquent and substance abusing peers, moving away from home, and dropping out of education. The implications of these results are examined.
Keywords: cannabis, criminal behaviour, drugs, mental health, juvenile offending, school dropout, substance abuse, youth
Notes:
COHORT STUDIES
Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study
RESEARCH
Done by: The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, and the Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin at Madison, USA. Injury Prevention Research Unit of the University of Otago Medical School.
Funded by: The Health Research Council of New Zealand (formerly the Medical Research Council), and the US National Institute of Health
Method: Literature review, qualitative study, [quantitative study], pilot programme evaluation, established programme evaluation, cohort study. A longitudinal study of 1,037 children born in Dunedin between 1972/73, and followed-up regularly since birth to the present day.
Status: IN PROGRESS, ongoing
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: IQ and delinquency: a direct test of the differential detection hypothesis
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E. and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1988; 97:330-3
Description: COMMENT. This study examined the IQs of 13 year olds who were classified as officially delinquent, delinquent but with no police record and those without a history of delinquency. There was no significant difference in IQs between the two delinquent sub-groups but both these groups gained significantly lower mean IQs than non-delinquents. These findings did not support the 'differential detection' hypothesis. Age of subjects: 13
Keywords: children, delinquency, intelligence, IQ, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO115
Title: Self-reported delinquency: results from an instrument in New Zealand
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E. and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 1988; 21:227-40
Description: COMMENT. This article describes the Self-Report Early Delinquency Scale (SRED), a research instrument designed to capture self reports of illegal and norm violating behaviours from New Zealand adolescents. Reliability and validity are described and were considered adequate for recommending the instrument for use in social science research. Findings in the predicted directions were obtained from the relations between SRED scores and gender, family instability, history of behaviour disorder, social class and intelligence. Age of subjects: 13
Keywords: antisocial behaviour, attention, behaviour, children, conduct disorder, crime, delinquency, family characteristics, intelligence, reading tests, research methodology, socio-economic status, SRED, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO125
Title: A prospective replication of the protective effect of IQ in subjects at high risk of juvenile delinquency
Author(s): White, J.L., T.E. Moffitt and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 1990; 57:719-24
Description: COMMENT. This report tested hypotheses about the protective effects of a higher I.Q. in the prevention of delinquency in those at high risk. The study found that male and female delinquents had significantly lower I.Q.s than non-delinquents. It also found that a very high I.Q. may help boys, even those at risk, to stay free of delinquency altogether. Age of subjects: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15
Keywords: children, conduct disorder, crime, delinquency, intelligence, IQ, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO134
Title: The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study: a 15 year longitudinal study
Author(s): Silva, P.A.
Completed: YES
Availability: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 1990; 4:76-107
Description: COMMENT. This article describes the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a longitudinal study of 1037 children studied at birth and followed-up at age 13, with the majority being followed-up every 2 years thereafter, to age 15. The paper includes a description of the setting for the study, the historical background, establishment of the study, the sample, follow-up rates, changes in sample characteristics over time, the procedures, the data gathered at each phase and the investigators responsible. Some of the topics studied over the years are set out in a table of descriptors which includes references to refereed journal articles that include results relating to the topics. Plans for the future are also described. Reflections on some of the reasons why the study has been successful are noted. The article concludes with a full list of 328 publications and reports, current as at 1 July 1989. Age of subjects: birth to age 15
Keywords: children, research methodology, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO135
Title: Juvenile delinquency and attention deficit disorder: boy's developmental trajectories from age 3 to age 15
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E.
Completed: YES
Availability: Child Development, 1990; 61:893-910
Description: COMMENT. This study described factors related to delinquency and attention deficit disorder over time. Those with both attention deficit and disorder and delinquency fared worst in all analyses. Their delinquency tended to begin early and persist to adolescence. Those who were delinquent but did not have attention deficit disorder showed less risk factors. The co-morbidity of attention deficit disorder and delinquency was considered to be a likely predictor of criminal offending beyond adolescence. Age of subjects: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15
Keywords: antisocial behaviour, attention, children, co-morbidity, crime, criminal behaviour, delinquency, DSM-III disorder, Family Adversity Index, intelligence, males, reading, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO137
Title: Disentangling delinquency and learning disability: neuropsychological function and social support
Author(s): Henry, B., T.E. Moffitt and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: International Journal of Clinical Neuropsychology, 1992; 13:1-6
Description: COMMENT. This study examined associations between delinquency, learning disability, neuropsychological functioning and social support. It concluded that both delinquent and learning disabled children suffer from language deficits. The results also suggested that poor verbal skills and poor social support are correlates of delinquency per se and not simply the result of the large number of learning disabled subjects found among delinquent samples. Age of subjects: 13
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, children, crime, delinquency, education, Family Environment Scale, intelligence, learning disability, neuropsychology, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO146
Title: Parental help seeking for behavioural and emotional problems in childhood and adolescence
Author(s): Feehan, M., W.R. Stanton, R. McGee and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Community Health Studies, 1990; 14:303-9
Description: COMMENT. This paper described the help that was sought by parents for behavioural and emotional problems. Some family and other characteristics of parents who sought help was also examined. The results are discussed in terms of service provision for these age groups within the present restructuring of the public health system in New Zealand. Age of subjects: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15
Keywords: behaviour, children, DSM-III disorder, emotional adjustment, family characteristics, health services, help seeking, parental characteristics, socio-economic status, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO156
Title: How early can we tell?: predictors of childhood conduct disorder and adolescent delinquency
Author(s): White, J.L., T.E. Moffitt, F. Earls and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Criminology, 1990; 28:507-33
Description: COMMENT. This study examined the power of a variety of characteristics of the pre-school child to predict anti-social behaviour at ages 11 and 15 years. After screening pre-school measures for their predictive power, a discriminant function analysis was performed with the five most promising pre-school predictors. This function correctly classified 81% of subjects as anti-social at age 11 and 66% as delinquent at age 15. Having pre-school behaviour problems was the best predictor of anti-social outcome. Age of subjects: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, behaviour, children, conduct disorder, crime, delinquency, DSM-III disorder, Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, intelligence, language, motor development, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO157
Title: Early family predictors of child and adolescent antisocial behaviours: who are the mothers of delinquents?
Author(s): Henry, B., T.E. Moffitt, L. Robins, F. Earls and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health, 1993; 3:97-100
Description: COMMENT. This paper described associations between a wide range of family and parental characteristics, and antisocial behaviour. Nine family variables were found to be significantly associated, with the most important being parental disagreement about how to discipline the child at age 5 and many changes in the child's primary caretaker. Age of subjects: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15
Keywords: antisocial behaviour, children, delinquency, discipline, DSM-III disorder, family characteristics, parental characteristics, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO198
Title: Unravelling girls' delinquency : biological dispositional and contextual contributions to adolescent misbehaviour
Author(s): Caspi, A., D. Laynam, T.E. Moffitt and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Developmental Psychology, 29; 19-30
Description: COMMENT. This paper described the contribution of variations in age of menarche, childhood problem behaviour and socio-economic status on self-reported delinquency at age 15, with a special emphasis on the role of single-sex versus mixed-sex schools. Delinquency was found to be less common among girls from single-sex schools. Age of subjects: 9,11, 13 and 15
Keywords: behaviour, children, delinquency, females, menarche, schools, socio-economic status, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO200
Title: The neuropsychology of conduct disorder
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E.
Completed: YES
Availability: Development and Psychopathology, 1992; 5:133-49
Description: COMMENT. This paper reviews the literature on relationships between a variety of neuropsychological factors, conduct disorder and juvenile delinquency. Age of subjects: not applicable
Keywords: antisocial behaviour, behaviour, children, conduct disorder, intelligence, neuropsychology, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO206
Title: Reading attainment and juvenile delinquency
Author(s): Williams, S. and R. McGee
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. In Press
Description: COMMENT. This paper described a study involving structural equation modelling to examine relationships between reading attainment and anti-social behaviour at ages 7 and 9 years, and subsequent reading and delinquent behaviour in adolescence. Age of subjects: 7, 9 and 15
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, children, delinquency, reading, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO208
Title: Temperamental origins of child and adolescent behaviour problems: from age 3 to age 15
Author(s): Caspi, A., B. Henry, R.O. McGee, T.E. Moffitt and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Child Development, 1995; 66:55-68
Description: COMMENT. This paper shows the relationship between early temperament as measured by behaviour observations and later behaviour problems. Significant associations were reported. Age of subjects: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15
Keywords: behaviour problems, children, temperament, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO212
Title: The importance of conduct problems and depressive symptoms in predicting adolescent substance use
Author(s): Henry, B., M. Feehan, R. McGee, W. Stanton, T.E. Moffitt and P. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 1993; 21:469-80
Description: COMMENT. This paper reported the results of a study of the relative importance of conduct problems and depressive symptoms for predicting substance use. Age of subjects: 11, 15
Keywords: alcohol, behaviour problems, cannabis, children, depression, drugs, substance use, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO213
Title: Personality traits are linked to crime among males and females: evidence from a birth cohort
Author(s): Krueger, R.F., P.S. Schmutte, A. Caspi, T.E. Moffitt, K. Campbell and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1994; 103:328-38
Description: COMMENT. This study showed links between personality and criminal behaviour. Age of subjects: 18
Keywords: children, delinquency, crime, criminal behaviour, personality, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO214
Title: "Life-course-persistent" and "adolescent-limited" antisocial behaviour: a developmental taxonomy
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E.
Completed: YES
Availability: Psychological Review, 1994; 100:674-701
Description: COMMENT. This paper outlines Moffitt's theory of two types of anti-social behaviour and sets out a developmental taxonomy. Age of subjects: not applicable
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, children, crime, delinquency, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO221
Title: Neuropsychological tests predict persistent male delinquency
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E., D.R. Lynam and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Criminology, 1993; 32:277-300
Description: COMMENT. This article reports the first longitudinal evidence that neuropsychological status can predict antisocial outcomes. Age 13 neuropsychological score predicted earlier onset delinquency and greater frequency of delinquent behaviours at age 18. Age of subjects: 13-18
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, children, crime, delinquency, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO239
Title: Are some people crime-prone?: Replications of the personality-crime relationship across nation, gender, race and method
Author(s): Caspi, A., T.E. Moffitt, P.A. Silva, M. Stouthamer-Loeber, R.F. Krueger and P.S. Schmutte
Completed: YES
Availability: Criminology, 1994; 32:163-95
Description: COMMENT. This paper examines the relation between personality traits and crime in two studies - one in New Zealand and one in Pittsburgh, USA. High Negative Emotionality (the tendency to experience aversive affective states) and Weak Constraint (difficulty in impulse control) were related to delinquent behaviour. Evidence about the developmental origins and consequences of this personality configuration is reviewed and its implications for theories about antisocial behaviour are discussed. Age of Subjects: 12, 13, 18
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, children, crime, criminal behaviour, delinquency, ethnicity, gender, personality, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO265
Title: Temperamental and familial predictors of violent and non-violent criminal convictions: from age 3 to age 18
Author(s): Henry, B., A. Caspi, T.E. Moffitt and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Developmental Psychology. In Press
Description: COMMENT. This paper examines the relation between family characteristics, childhood temperament, and convictions for violent and non-violent criminal convictions in late adolescence. Family factors were associated with both types of convictions whereas childhood temperament was mainly associated with violent offences. The potentially distinct roles of social and self-regulation in the development of antisocial behaviour are discussed. Age of subjects: 3-18
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, childhood temperament, children, criminal behaviour, family characteristics, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO265
Title: Childhood-onset versus adolescence-onset antisocial conduct in males: natural history from age 3 to 18
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E., A. Caspi, N. Dickson, P Silva and W. Stanton
Completed: YES
Availability: Development and Psychopathology, 1995; 8:399-424
Description: COMMENT. This paper reports data that support the distinction between childhood-onset and adolescence-onset to conduct problems. Implications for theory, research design, prevention and therapeutic treatment of conduct problems are highlighted. Age of subjects: 3-18
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, children, conduct disorder, crime, delinquency, personality, research design, violence, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO274
Title: Gender differences in partner violence in a birth cohort of 21 year olds: bridging the gap between clinical and epidemiological studies
Author(s): Magdol, L., T.E. Moffitt, A. Caspi, D. Newman, J. Fagan and P.A. Silva
Completed: YES
Availability: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. In press
Description: COMMENT. This study bridged the gap between clinical and community studies of partner violence by describing the epidemiology and correlates of partner violence in a sample of 21 year old men and women who completed the Conflict Tactics Scales. The study is the first to compare dating, cohabiting and married couples representing the distribution of relationship patterns among contemporary young adults. Partner violence was more likely among individuals who lived with their partner, regardless of gender or marital status. By age 21, many young adults have already become involved in intimate violence, making it imperative that prevention programmes begin sooner. Age of subjects: 21
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, gender, mental health, partner violence, perpetrators, substance abuse, victims, violence
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RO277
Title: Cannabis use among New Zealand adolescents
Author(s): McGee, R. and M. Feehan
Completed: YES
Availability: New Zealand Medical Journal, 1993 (letter).
Description: COMMENT. This letter describes results from the study on cannabis use among sample members at age 15 and 18 in support of the findings of Fergusson et al on cannabis use in a sample of adolescents in Christchurch, New Zealand. Age of subjects: 15, 18
Keywords: cannabis, children, drugs, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code RNZ67
Title: Predicting criminal violence: descriptive data and predispositional factors
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E., S.A. Mednick and W.F. Gabrielli
Completed: YES
Availability: In Current Approaches to the Prediction of Violence, Brizer, D. and M. Crowner (Eds). New York: American Psychiatric Association Press, 1988. pp13-34
Description: COMMENT. This is a literature review describing some data describing the problems and predisposing factors. Age of subjects: not applicable
Keywords: aggression, children, criminal behaviour, delinquency, violence, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT17
Title: Accommodating self-report methods to a low-delinquency culture: experience from New Zealand
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E.
Completed: YES
Availability: In Cross National Research in Self Reported Crime, Klein, M.W. (Ed.). Dordrecht: Matinus Nijhoff Press, 1989. pp43-66
Description: COMMENT. This chapter reviews methods of assessing self reports of delinquency from the perspective of various cultures, with reference to the Dunedin Early Self Report Delinquency measure (See RO125 [B20.02] for a description). Age of subjects: not applicable
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, crime, cultural differences, delinquency, tests, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT18
Title: Neuropsychological studies of juvenile delinquency and violence: a review
Author(s): Moffitt T.E. and B. Henry
Completed: YES
Availability: In Neuropsychology of Aggression, Milner, J.S. (Ed). Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1991. pp67-91
Description: COMMENT. This review presents a critical discussion of research into neuropsychological characteristics and delinquency and violence. Age of subjects: not applicable
Keywords: aggression, anti-social behaviour, crime, delinquency, neuropsychology, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT25
Title: The continuity of maladaptive behavior
Author(s): Caspi, A. and T.E. Moffitt
Completed: YES
Availability: In Manual of Developmental Psychopathology, Cicchetti D. and D. Cohen (Eds). New York: Wiley, 1995. pp472-511
Description: COMMENT. This chapter provides an overview of research on maladaptive behaviour, with a special emphasis on the issue of continuity. Age of subjects: not applicable
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, conduct disorder, crime, delinquency, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT30
Title: Neuropsychology, antisocial behavior and neighborhood context
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E.
Completed: YES
Availability: In Growing up violent: contributions of inner-city life, McCord J. (Ed). New York: Cambridge University Press.1996 (In press)
Description: COMMENT. This chapter describes relationships between neuropsychology, anti-social behaviour and environments. Age of subjects: not applicable
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, delinquency, neuropsychology, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT31
Title: Individual differences in personality and intelligence are linked to crime: cross-context evidence from nations, neighbourhoods, genders, races, and age-cohorts
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E., A. Caspi, P.A. Silva and M. Stouthamer-Loeber
Completed: YES
Availability: In Current Perspectives on Ageing and the Life cycle,
Blau, Z.S. (Ed), 1995; Vol. 4. And in Delinquency and Disrepute in the Life Course,
Hagen, J. (Ed.); 1995,
pp1-34. Greenwich, Connecticut: JAI Press. ISBN 1-559348-367-4
Description: COMMENT. This chapter shows that individual differences in personality and intelligence are consistently related to crime. Age of subjects: 12-13, 18
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, crime, delinquency, intelligence, personality, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT35
Title: Self-reported delinquency at age 18: New Zealand's Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E., P.A. Silva, D.R. Lynam and B. Henry
Completed: YES
Availability: In The International Self-Report Delinquency Project,
Junger-Tas, J. and
G.J. Terlouw (Eds); pp356-68. Den Haag: Ministry of Justice of the Netherlands.
Description: COMMENT. This chapter reports on a comparison of 18 year-old New Zealanders and samples of similar-aged youth from other nations on self-reports of delinquent offending. Age of subjects: 18
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, crime, delinquency, offending, self-reporting, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT36
Title: Delinquency across development: the natural history of antisocial behaviour
Author(s): Moffitt, T.E. and H.L. Harrington
Completed: YES
Availability: In From Child to Adult: The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, Silva, P.A. and W.R. Stanton, (Eds). Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1996. In Press
Description: COMMENT. Based on research into the natural history of antisocial behaviour among members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, this chapter describes the development of a theory that can predict which delinquent teens are likely to progress to lives of crime and deviant behaviour. Age of subjects: N/A
Keywords: anti-social behaviour, crime, delinquency, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT47
Title: Progression in the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs
Author(s): Stanton, W.R.
Completed: YES
Availability: In From Child to Adult: The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, Silva, P.A. and W.R. Stanton, (Eds). Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1996. In Press
Description: COMMENT. This chapter examines the extent of overlap in the use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis during childhood and early adolescence. Prevention and intervention strategies are discussed in light of these findings. Age of subjects: 9-18
Keywords: alcohol, cannabis, children, drugs, multi-drug use, prevention, tobacco, youth
Notes: DMHDRU reference code CHAPT48
Title: Physical and sexual assault in New Zealand I: the experience of 21 year old men in the community
Author(s): Nada-Raja, Shyamala, John Langley, Judy Martin et al
Completed: YES, 1995
Availability: Contact the authors, C/- Injury Prevention Research Unit, Otago Medical School, P O Box 913, Dunedin.
Description: ABSTRACT. This paper describes the epidemiology of assault among 482 young men in the community during the previous twelve months. Forty-five percent reported a physical assault, attempt or threat. Five per cent reported a sexual assault. Nearly half of those assaulted reported multiple physical assaults. Strangers committed most physical assaults, but a person known to the victim committed most of the assaults where treatment was not received, the most common type of assault. Injuries due to assault were significantly associated with alcohol consumption by the assailant. The high proportion of men who reported multiple physical assaults, attempts, and threats warrants further study to determine the reasons for repeated victimisation. SEE notes, below.
Keywords: alcohol, attitudes, community sample, men, physical assault, prevalence, sexual assault, victimisation, violent crime, youth,
Notes: Judy Martin also provided information about a pilot study just starting, for a larger study planned in 1998; "Community attitudes to violence and victimisation persistence in young New Zealanders". To be carried out by the Injury Prevention Research Unit, it will involve literature review, qualitative study and quantitative study. Dependent on funding for main study.
Title: Physical and sexual assault in New Zealand II: the experience of 21 year old women in the community
Author(s): Martin, Judy, John Langley, Shyamala Nada-Raja, Michael Feehan, Rob McGee, Judith Clarke, Dorothy Begg, Maria Hutchinson-Cervantes, Terrie Moffitt and Frederick Rivara
Completed: YES, 1995
Availability: Contact the authors, C/- Injury Prevention Research Unit, Otago Medical School, P O Box 913, Dunedin.
Description: A birth cohort of 21 year old New Zealand women (n=462) was interviewed to ascertain rates of both physical and sexual assault in the preceding 12 months. Twenty five percent of the women reported at least one physical assault, either completed, attempted or threatened. Most of the assaults receiving treatment were by a perpetrator who had been drinking alcohol. Thirty women (6.5 per cent) reported sexual assaults involving completed or attempted intercourse. Ten percent reported episodes of sexual touching or approaches by authority figures. The most common perpetrator was someone who was known to the victim, but not a partner. Partners carried out more of the physical assaults, especially those receiving treatment, and strangers were responsible for most of the sexual touching reported. Twenty three per cent of the physical assaults, most often threats, were carried out by other women, but sexual episodes were perpetrated almost exclusively by males. This is one of the few studies to allow a comparison of the characteristics of assaults of differing severity and by a range of perpetrators.
Keywords:
Notes:
Title: Risk factors for physical assault victimisation in a community sample of 21-year olds
Author(s): Nada-Raja, S., J.D. Langley, R. McGee, J. Martin and S. Williams
Completed: NO, planned completion date end of 1996, planned publication mid-1997
Availability: -
Description: Aims. To identify risk factors for physical assault in early adulthood. Method. Prospectively gathered data on mental health, antisocial behaviours, personal disadvantage, social compliance and personal traits in adolescence were examined as potential risk factors for victimisation at age 21 in a birth cohort of New Zealanders. Participants (women = 462 and men = 482) provided details of their assaultive experiences during the previous 12 months in a semi-structured interview. Results. Nearly half of the men and a quarter of the women reported a physical assault. Results to date show that perpetration of violence towards others and personal disadvantage are important risk factors for assault in men, and poor mental health is strongly associated with victimisation in women.
Keywords: alcohol, criminal behaviour, gender issues, health, mental health, offences, offenders, personality, physical assault, socio-economic status, victimisation, victims, young parents, youth
Notes:
Title: Risk factors for sexual assault in young New Zealand women: a prospective study
Author(s): Martin, Judy, John Langley, Shyamala Nada-Raja and Mike Feehan
Completed: YES, November 1996
Availability: To be submitted to an international victimology journal
Description: A small number of women in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study reported an unwanted sexual assault or unwanted sexual touching in the 12 months prior to their interview at age 21. Testing of risk variables that had been gathered at age 18 and age 15 did not support the commonly held view of rape victims as having many sexual partners or being heavy drinkers. High negative emotionality and reporting their first sexual experience as pressured or forced were significantly related to victimisation.
Keywords: rape, risk factors, sexual abuse, victimisation
Notes:
COHORT STUDIES
Offending in a cohort of males
RESEARCH
Done by: Joint Committee on Youth Offenders
Funded by: Department of Social Welfare
Method: Literature review, quantitative study
Status: Completed
PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Title: One in four: offending from age ten to twenty-four in a cohort of
New Zealand males
Author(s): Lovell, Ron and Marion Norris
Completed: YES, 1990
Availability: Wellington: Department of Social Welfare, 1990. ISSN 0112-0549, ISBN 0-477-07298-4. Copies of the report may be obtained from Director Research, Head Office, Department of Social Welfare, Private Bag 21, Wellington.
Description: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY [abridged]. One in Four provides a unique view of offending behaviour by New Zealand males. Based on the individual histories of over 25,000 individuals who were born in New Zealand in 1957 and attending state schools in 1967, the study provides a reasonably accurate picture of just what proportion of the male population does appear in court as the result of offending and what proportion of this number subsequently reappear. The study is unusual in this country because its analyses are based on individual offending records, not on the usual official statistics... The study has investigated a number of issues of relevance to the New Zealand juvenile justice policy:... the impact of repeat offending on court workloads; the extent of individual specialisation in particular types of offending; the degree to which likelihood or reappearance was associated with aspects of prior offending history, or with prior experience of particular court outcomes; the degree of carry over between juvenile and later adult offending; the impact of first appearing at a young age on individual volumes of subsequent appearances; and whether the early offending histories of those who went on to become persistent offenders differed from the early histories of those who did not...
Keywords: court appearance, crime statistics, criminal behaviour, offenders, prosecution, recidivism, youth
Notes:
