Differential Pathways to Violence and Self-Injurious Behavior: African-American and White Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

• NCJ Number: 209566
• Journal: Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 42 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2005 Pages: 211-242
• Author(s): Kristi Holsinger; Alexander M. Holsinger
• Date Published: May 2005
• Length: 32 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined racial differences (African-American compared with White) among delinquent girls and how these differences may affect the commission of violent behavior and self-injurious behavior.

Abstract

A self-report survey was developed and administered to 163 female institutionalized delinquents in Ohio during the fall of 1998. Questions on their childhood focused on abuse, family history, school, self-esteem, and mental health. The survey also queried the girls on violent behavior, self-injurious behavior, suicide attempts, and overall delinquency. Since the study focused on racial differences in the data analysis, 26 girls were omitted from the analysis due to the small representation of their ethnicity in the sample, leaving a total of 59 African-American girls and 78 White girls. The analyses indicated different reactions to childhood abuse by race. Experiencing abuse was particularly relevant to violence among African-American girls. For White girls, there was a strong link between abuse and indicators of poor mental health (suicide attempts and self-injurious behaviors). Patterns of response to abusive histories should account for these differences. These differential pathways to violence and self-injurious behavior are expected, given the racial differences in socialization and self-esteem. Since African-American girls are socialized to be self-reliant and independent, they may be more likely to act in more aggressive ways, which may tend to produce higher self-esteem and fewer mental health issues. On the other hand, White girls are raised to be dependent and accepting of feminine gender roles, which leads to the internalization of problems that lower self-esteem and cause more mental health issues. For the African-American girls, drug/alcohol use, family experiences, and antisocial personality scales were significant correlates of total delinquency. For White girls, the attitude, drug-alcohol use, parent, suicide/self-injury, and antisocial personality scales correlated significantly with overall delinquency. 5 tables and 85 references