Citation

Jones MS, Pierce H. Youth Soc. 2021; 53(5): 841-867.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0044118X20908759

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been identified as a key risk factor for a variety of negative health, psychiatric, and behavioral outcomes across the life course. Although recent research has begun to consider the role of ACEs in criminogenic behaviors among youth, few studies to date have assessed the association between early exposure to ACEs and delinquent behavior among nonincarcerated youth. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCW; n = 3,402) and a life course theoretical framework, this study aims to address this gap in the literature by examining the relationships between individual, cumulative, and clustering of ACEs and delinquency in the lives of youth. The results of our empirical study indicate that individual, cumulative, and clustering of ACEs by the age of 5 years are associated with youth delinquent behavior. Based on our results, sociologists and criminologists should critically consider the role of ACEs in understanding youth delinquency.

Keywords: Juvenile justice; Child abuse

Language: en

Keywords

adverse childhood experiences; delinquency; the life course perspective