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Association of Family Structure to Later Criminality: A Population-Based Follow-up Study of Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients in Northern Finland

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Abstract

The influence of family structure on criminality in adolescents is well acknowledged in population based studies of delinquents, but not regarding adolescent psychiatric inpatients. The association of family structure to criminality was examined among 508 adolescents receiving psychiatric inpatient treatment between 2001 and 2006. Family structure and DSM-IV based psychiatric diagnoses were based on the K-SADS-PL-interview and criminality on criminal records provided by the Finnish Legal Register Centre. After adjusting for socio-demographic, clinical and family factors, the adolescents from single parent families, child welfare placements and those not living with their biological parents showed an increased risk of committing crimes at an earlier age than adolescents from two parent families. Lack of a safe and stable family environment has important implications for adolescents with severe mental disorder. When these adolescents are discharged from hospital, special attention should be focused on organizing stable and long term psychosocial support which compensates for the lack of stable family environment and seeks to prevent future adversities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Olli Ikäheimo & Pirkko Räsänen

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 26, 90029, Oulu, Finland

    Matti Laukkanen & Helinä Hakko

Authors
  1. Olli Ikäheimo
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  2. Matti Laukkanen
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  3. Helinä Hakko
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  4. Pirkko Räsänen
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Correspondence to Helinä Hakko.

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Ikäheimo, O., Laukkanen, M., Hakko, H. et al. Association of Family Structure to Later Criminality: A Population-Based Follow-up Study of Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients in Northern Finland. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 44, 233–246 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-012-0321-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-012-0321-2

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