NCJ Number
155422
Journal
Journal of Forensic Psychiatry Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (December 1994) Pages: 527-537
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The relationship between drug abuse, mental disorders, and juvenile delinquency in Nigeria was examined by means of an analysis of data from 50 residents of a remand home in Osogbo, Nigeria and 50 juveniles from elementary and secondary schools in the same geographical area.
Abstract
The comparison group was chosen to match the juvenile delinquents with respect to sex, age, ethnicity, and educational level. Both groups completed the Carlson Psychological Survey, a structured, 50-item questionnaire developed by Kenneth Carlson in 1982, using prison inmates. Results revealed no difference in drug abuse. Both groups scored much lower than the North American groups on which the questionnaire was standardized. The juvenile delinquents scored more than the comparison groups on three subscales: antisocial tendency, thought disturbance, and self- depreciation. The difference was statistically significant with respect to thought disturbance but not on the other two subscales. Thought disturbance was positively correlated with self-depreciation in both groups, both being indicators of psychopathology. Drug abuse was significantly associates with psychopathology in both groups, but no association existed with antisocial tendency. Tables, figure, and 11 reference (Author abstract modified)