Looking Forward in Records of Youth Abused as Children: Risks for Homicidal,Violent,and Delinquent Offenses

Abstract

To study risks of abuse, violence, and homicide, 181 Abused Children (M age= 12.85 yr., SD = 2.14; 58 girls, 123 boys) were matched with 181 clinic-referred Controls. Data analysis was Shao's bootstrapped logistic regression with area under curve (AUC) and odds ratios (OR). Predictors of abused status were court contacts (OR = 2.04e+22) and poorer executive function (OR = .81; AUC=.99; 95%CI = .91−.99). Groups were tracked forward in records for 9 years (M=8.78 yr., SD =1.41). Looking forward, youth (M age = 21.63 yr., SD = 2.07) were classified into Abused Children Later Homicidal (5%, n = 10), Abused Children Later Violent (23%, n = 41), Abused Children Later Delinquent (28%, n = 50), Abused Children Later Nondeliquent (44%, n = 80), and Controls (n = 181). Data were analyzed with two more logistic regressions. Predictors of Abused Children Later Homicidal compared with Controls were number of court contacts (OR =50,398.78) and poorer executive function (OR = 79.72; AUC =.91; 95%CI= .80−.95). The predictor of Abused Children Later Homicidal contrasted with Abused Children Later Nondelinquent was court contacts (OR = 2,077,089,352; AUC=.87; 95%CI =.65−.95). The common predictor for Abused Children and Abused Children Later Homicidal groups was court contacts.