Raj Rajnish, Hussain Syed Karrar, Khare Vaibhav Kumar, Wani Zaid Ahmad, Afreen Afifa
Dept. of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Kashmir, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Dept. of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Kashmir, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Indian J Psychol Med. 2025 Apr 28:02537176251335059. doi: 10.1177/02537176251335059.
India has a large population of children under 18, one-third of the total population. Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has experienced an increase in juveniles in conflict with the law compared to the rest of the country. This study aimed to assess the socio-demographic profiles, psychosocial factors, and psychopathology of juveniles in conflict with the law in Kashmir who were referred to our institute for assessment.
A retrospective cross-sectional study assessed records from January 2022 to June 2024. Data related to the socio-demographic profile, psychosocial factors, psychiatric disorders, charged offenses, and psychological assessments (Draw a Picture Test [DAPT], Rorschach Inkblot Test [RIBT]) were extracted and analysed.
The mean age of the subjects was 17.24 years, and all participants were male. A history of child labor was reported in 29.26% of the subjects, while 41.46% ( = 17) experienced familial neglect. Hyperactivity and impulsivity, consistent with ADHD (7.31%), were the most common psychiatric disorders, followed by depression (4.87%) and anxiety disorders (4.87%). In the DAPT, most subjects scored higher on inadequacy, followed by anxiety and social immaturity. In contrast, intact cognitive mediation and an avoidant style were more prevalent in the RIBT. The most common offenses were registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, followed by the Arms Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
Our study observed a link between juvenile delinquency and developmental, psychological, and social factors. Anxiety, hyperactivity, and peer influence were frequently reported among the cases analysed, highlighting areas requiring further exploration. The findings underscore the importance of addressing developmental and mental health conditions, as well as psychosocial factors, in juveniles in conflict with the law. Future research should explore targeted rehabilitation programs and longitudinal studies to establish causality. In limitation, this retrospective study used descriptive statistics, limiting the ability to infer causation.
印度18岁以下儿童人口众多，占总人口的三分之一。与印度其他地区相比，查谟和克什米尔地区与法律发生冲突的青少年人数有所增加。本研究旨在评估被转介到我们研究所进行评估的克什米尔地区与法律发生冲突的青少年的社会人口学特征、心理社会因素和精神病理学情况。
一项回顾性横断面研究评估了2022年1月至2024年6月的记录。提取并分析了与社会人口学特征、心理社会因素、精神障碍、被控罪行以及心理评估（画一幅画测试[DAPT]、罗夏墨迹测试[RIBT]）相关的数据。
受试者的平均年龄为17.24岁，所有参与者均为男性。29.26%的受试者报告有童工史，而41.46%（n = 17）经历过家庭忽视。与注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）相符的多动和冲动是最常见的精神障碍，其次是抑郁症（4.87%）和焦虑症（4.87%）。在DAPT中，大多数受试者在不足方面得分较高，其次是焦虑和社会不成熟。相比之下，在RIBT中，完整的认知调节和回避风格更为普遍。最常见的罪行是根据《非法活动（预防）法》登记的，其次是《武器法》和《保护儿童免遭性犯罪法》（POCSO）。
我们的研究观察到青少年犯罪与发育、心理和社会因素之间存在联系。在所分析的案例中，焦虑、多动和同伴影响经常被报告，突出了需要进一步探索的领域。研究结果强调了应对与法律发生冲突的青少年的发育和心理健康状况以及心理社会因素的重要性。未来的研究应探索有针对性的康复项目和纵向研究以确定因果关系。局限性在于，这项回顾性研究使用了描述性统计，限制了推断因果关系的能力。
