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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The intent of this article by Schoenthaler was to assess the effects of a diet change on behavioral patterns among incarcerated juveniles.
METHODOLOGY:
The author employed a quasi-experimental design by tracking the incidents resulting in formal disciplinary action prior to and after a diet change among 3,399 juveniles incarcerated in Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall in August of 1982. As of this date juveniles were not permitted to consume "junk foods" that were previously brought by visitors or provided by the administration as rewards for good behavior. Junk foods were identified as those containing food additives and high concentrations of sugar such as candy bars, soft drinks and refined carbohydrate snacks. More nutritious snacks were provided, such as unsweetened orange juice, popcorn, fruits, and nuts. All changes were implemented in between-meal snacks only; no alterations were made in the three daily meals. Behavioral records of the preceding and subsequent twelve months were assessed for the number of infractions committed and the mean rate of antisocial behavior per juvenile, per day, during the precise number of days in incarceration. Age, gender, race, type of infraction, and the original charge responsible for the incarceration were also recorded and applied as control variables.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The composition of the before-group (74.4% whites; 80% males; average age of 15.1 years) and the after-group (73.4% whites, 85% males; average age of 15.4 years) remained fairly stable. Of the 573 females, less than 19% were involved in antisocial behavior, all of which were confined less than 3 days, making meaningful inferential statistics difficult; no significant differences in behavior were found in the female samples. Of the 2,005 males who were considered among the final sample, the after-group rates of antisocial behavior decreased by 21% (p=.05). Improvements occurred primarily among assault/fights and disruption/horseplay infractions. With the exception of suicide attempts, no other category (verbal assaults/verbal fights, disobedience, contraband, vandalism, other) changed more than 10%. Among these categories, contraband was the only infraction which demonstrated an increase (10%). The author argued that any combination of the following three elements could have resulted in the behavioral changes: 1) The decrease in sugar. 2) The decrease in food additives. 3) The increase in highly nutritious foods.
AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
Because the implementation of sound nutrition was inexpensive and easy to implement, and because it benefitted personal health, it should be implemented, the author argued, whenever possible.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Nutrition
KW - Diet
KW - Juvenile Offender
KW - Juvenile Inmate
KW - Juvenile Antisocial Behavior
KW - Juvenile Behavior
KW - Behavior Causes
KW - Sugar Consumption
KW - Incarcerated
KW - Juvenile Aggression
KW - Juvenile Violence
KW - Fighting Behavior
KW - Inmate Aggression
KW - Inmate Antisocial Behavior
KW - Inmate Behavior
KW - Inmate Offender
KW - Inmate Studies
KW - Inmate Violence |