Implications of Longitudinal Studies of Delinquency for Prevention Research (From Preventing Mental Disorders, P 140-148, 1987, Jane A Steinberg and Morton M Silverman, eds.)

• NCJ Number: 110185
• Author(s): M E Ensminger
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1-RO1-MH/AA 39500-01
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; National Institute of Mental Health; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Designing effective programs for the prevention of delinquency requires a systematic study of its early and developing origins in the social structural, social adaptational, psychological, and biological arenas.

Abstract

This research must not only identify 'high risk' characteristics, but should also investigate why certain characteristics entail high risk. Knowing the characteristics that put children at high risk is important in identifying a target population for prevention efforts. In deciding which prevention efforts are likely to be effective, it is useful to understand why these characteristics relate to later delinquency. This research review found that early aggressiveness and/or antisocial behavior were shown to be important antecedents to later delinquency and criminality, and high research priority should be placed on examining the origins and ways of reducing levels of early aggressiveness. Moreover, prevention research should simultaneously examine other adolescent outcomes, so that specificity of antecedents to one or several outcomes can be determined. Finally, longitudinal studies should be used to test the effects of normal events, such as school success or failure, (in addition to the evaluation of prevention and intervention efforts) on future delinquents. 33 references.