Citation

Hilarski C. Stress Trauma Crisis 2004; 7(1): 47-59.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15434610490281084

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This longitudinal secondary analysis examined the relationship between victimization exposure and conduct disorder behavior in youth. Using the Ecological Model, it was hypothesized that victimization exposure in youth, age 11, would be associated with self-reported conduct disorder behavior at that same age, and that both would be predictive of conduct disorder behavior at age 18. Participants (N = 197) were youth, age 11, who were part of a national probability panel study--The National Youth Survey (NYS). Data from Wave I (1976) and Wave VI (1983) from the NYS were used to identify youth with conduct disorder (CD) behavior and victimization experiences. The data were analyzed with multiple regression using the independent variables: conduct disorder behavior, victimization, ethnicity, gender, and family income. The results showed that victimization in the prior year was a significant factor in predicting conduct disorder behavior in 11-year-old youth, by explaining 26% of the variance of CD behavior. Moreover, early victimization and CD behavior significantly explained 28% of the variance in CD behaviors at age 18. Implications for assessment and intervention include the need to assess and address victimization-related trauma among youth who display conduct disorder behavior.