TY - JOUR PY - 2022// TI - Childhood head injury as an acquired neuropsychological risk factor for adolescent delinquency JO - Journal of research in crime and delinquency A1 - Mongilio, Jessica SP - 756 EP - 790 VL - 59 IS - 6 N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study aims to parse out the effects of childhood head injury (HI) as an acquired neuropsychological deficit that impacts adolescent delinquent behavior, while accounting for other early-life risk factors and potential temporal ordering.

METHODS: Nationally representative prospective data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; N?=?13,287) and a series of logistic and binomial regressions are used to examine the relationship between early-life risk factors, HI, and adolescent delinquent behavior.

METHODological considerations from clinical HI research, such as the use of an orthopedic injury comparison group, are incorporated.

RESULTS: Findings are consistent with the conceptualization of HI as an acquired neuropsychological deficit, in that childhood HI increases the risk of early- and adolescent-onset delinquency, sustained delinquent behavior from childhood to early adolescence, and participation in a greater variety of delinquent behavior.

CONCLUSIONS: Childhood HI is relatively common, as over 27% of the sample reported at least one HI. The importance of HI as an acquired neuropsychological deficit and its relevance as a risk factor for later criminal behavior is reiterated. Future research should examine the importance of developmental period effects and mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0022-4278 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00224278221081140 ID - ref1 ER -