Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA.
Anxiety Stress Coping. 2009 Jul;22(4):433-48. doi: 10.1080/10615800802290634.
Exposure to multiple traumatic events and high rates of mental health problems are common among juvenile offenders. This study draws on Conservation of Resources (COR) stress theory to examine the impact of a specific trauma, Hurricane Katrina, relative to other adverse life events, on the mental health of female adolescent offenders in Mississippi. Teenage girls (N=258, 69% African American) were recruited from four juvenile detention centers and the state training school. Participants were interviewed about the occurrence and timing of adverse life events and hurricane-related experiences and completed a self-administered mental health assessment. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to identify predictors of anxiety and depression. Pre-hurricane family stressors, pre-hurricane traumatic events, hurricane-related property damage, and receipt of hurricane-related financial assistance significantly predicted symptoms of anxiety and depression. Findings support COR theory. Family stressors had the greatest influence on symptoms of anxiety and depression, highlighting the need for family based services that address the multiple, inter-related problems and challenges in the lives of female juvenile offenders.
创伤事件暴露和心理健康问题高发在少年犯中很常见。本研究基于资源保存（COR）压力理论，考察了特定创伤（卡特里娜飓风）相对于其他逆境生活事件对密西西比州女性青少年犯心理健康的影响。研究从四个青少年拘留中心和州培训学校招募了 258 名少女（69%为非裔美国人）。参与者接受了有关逆境生活事件和与飓风相关经历的访谈，并完成了自我管理的心理健康评估。分层线性回归模型用于确定焦虑和抑郁的预测因素。飓风前家庭压力源、飓风前创伤事件、与飓风相关的财产损失以及获得与飓风相关的经济援助，显著预测了焦虑和抑郁的症状。研究结果支持 COR 理论。家庭压力源对焦虑和抑郁症状的影响最大，突出了需要基于家庭的服务，以解决女性青少年犯生活中多个相互关联的问题和挑战。
