Publication Date

2024

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Shelleby, Elizabeth C.

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect) has consistently been shown to be a significant predictor of engagement in subsequent delinquent behaviors during adolescence. ADHD symptoms have also been shown to be both a risk factor for experiencing childhood maltreatment, as well as a potential consequence of having been exposed to maltreatment. Additionally, concurrent symptoms of ADHD and experiences of maltreatment are significantly associated. ADHD symptoms have also been shown to be related to delinquency. Further, research has found that the prevalence of these difficulties (e.g., ADHD symptoms, delinquent behaviors) may differ according to an individual’s gender. The present study aimed to use structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the direct associations between childhood maltreatment and adolescent delinquency, while controlling for several demographic variables. Additionally, SEM and the latent moderated structural equation (LMS) method was used to examine the moderating effect of ADHD symptoms and child sex assigned at birth (i.e., male, female) on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and adolescent delinquency. Data were from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a longitudinal birth cohort study comprising 4,898 families. Overall, childhood maltreatment significantly predicted adolescent delinquency, as did the individual facet of emotional abuse. ADHD symptoms significantly moderated the relationship between maltreatment and delinquency, as well as emotional abuse and delinquency, such that youth with higher levels of ADHD symptoms who experienced maltreatment, or emotional abuse specifically, reported engaging in higher levels of delinquency. There was also a three-way interaction between emotional abuse, ADHD symptoms, and child sex, such that adolescent males exhibiting average and high levels of ADHD symptoms who experienced higher levels of emotional abuse engaged in higher levels of delinquent behaviors.

Extent

167 pages

Language

en

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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