Abstract
Differences by gender in the presence of risk factors, patterns of previous delinquency, and response to treatment were examined for a sample of 88 adolescents who were placed in Treatment Foster Care. Females were found to have fewer foster parent-reported problem behaviors than their male counterparts during the first month of treatment. By month 6, problem behavior levels for males had dropped, while scores for female subjects had increased to the level of males at month 1. No differences in pre-post arrest data or program completion rates for males and females were found. Implications for research on and treatment of female adolescents with conduct problems are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ageton, S. S., & Elliott, D. S. (1978).The incidence of delinquent behavior in a national probability sample of adolescents (The National Youth Survey Report No. 3). Boulder, CO: Behavioral Research Institute.
Bank, L., Marlowe, J. H., Reid, J. B., Patterson, G. R., & Weinrott, M. R. (1991). A comparative evaluation of parent training for families of chronic delinquents.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 19, 15–33.
Blum, R. (1987). Contemporary threats to adolescent health in the United States.Journal of the American Medical Association, 257, 3390–3395.
Chalmers, J. B., & Townsend, M. A. R. (1990). The effects of training in social perspective taking on socially maladjusted girls.Child Development, 61, 178–190.
Chamberlain, P. (1990). Comparative evaluation of specialized foster care for seriously delinquent youths: A first step.Community Alternatives: International Journal of Family Care, 13(2), 21–36.
Chamberlain, P., & Reid, J. B. (1987), Parent observation and report of child symptoms.Behavioral Assessment, 9, 97–109.
Chamberlain, P., & Reid, J. B. (1991). Using a specialized foster care community treatment model for children and adolescents leaving the state mental health hospital.Journal of Community Psychology, 19, 266–276.
Chesney-Lind, M. (1988). Girls in jail.Crime and Delinquency, 34, 150–168.
Cutler, S. E., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1991). Accounting for sex differences in depression through female victimization: Childhood sexual abuse.Sex Roles, 24, 425–438.
Dadds, M. R., & McHugh, T. A. (1992). Social support and treatment outcome in behavioral family therapy for child conduct problems.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 252–259.
Figueria-McDonough, J. (1985). Are girls different? Gender discrepancies between delinquent behavior and control.Child Welfare, 64, 273–289.
Figueria-McDonough, J., Barton, W. H., & Sarri, R. (1981). Normal deviance: Gender similarities in adolescent subcultures. In M. O. Warren (Ed.),Comparing female and male offenders (pp. 17–45). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
Gold, M., & Reimer, D. J. (1975). Changing patterns of delinquent behavior among Americans 13 through 16 years old: 1967–1972.Crime and Delinquency, 7, 483–517.
Henggeler, S. W., Edwards, J., & Borduin, C. M. (1987). The family relations of female juvenile delinquents.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 199–209.
Henggeler, S. W., Rodick, J. D., Borduin, D. M., Hanson, C. L., Watson, S. M., & Urey, J. M. (1986). Multisystemic treatment of juvenile offenders: Effects on adolescent behavior and family interaction.Developmental Psychology, 22, 132–141.
Hindelang, M. J. (1973). Causes of delinquency: A partial explication and extension.social Problems, 20, 470–481.
Hunt, A., Day, D. M., & Levene, K. (1991).The parent daily report: A manual. Toronto: Earlscourt Child & Family Centre.
Janus, M. E., McCormack, A., Burgess, A. W., & Hartman, C. (1987).Adolescent runaways: Causes and consequences. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books/D. C. Health and Company.
Jones, M. B., Offord, D., & Abrams, N. (1980). Brothers, sisters, and antisocial behavior.British Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 139–145.
Morris, R. (1964). Female delinquency and relational problems.Social Forces, 43, 82–89.
Nye, F. I. (1958).Family relationships and delinquent behavior. Westprot, CT: Greenwood.
Offord, D. R., Boyle, M. C., & Racine, Y. A. (1991). The epidemiology of antisocial behavior in childhood and adolescence. In D. J. Pepler & K. H. Rubin (Eds.),The development and treatment of childhood aggression (pp. 31–54). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.
Pastorelli, C. M. (1992, May).A reproduction of the Oregon Social Learning Center child treatment model: Rome, Italy. Paper presented at the Oregon Social Learning Center seminar, Eugene, OR.
Patterson, G. R. (1973). Reprogramming the families of aggressive boys. In C. Thorsen (Ed.),Behavior modification in education (154–192). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Patterson, G. R. (1982).Coercive family process. Eugene, OR: Castalia Publishing Co.
Patterson, G. R., Chamberlain, P., & Reid, J. B. (1982). A comparative evaluation of parent training procedures.Behavior Therapy, 13, 638–650.
Patterson, G. R., Reid, J. B., & Dishion, T. J. (1992).A social learning approach: Volume 4. Antisocial boys. Eugene, OR: Castalia.
Phelps, R. J. (1982).Wisconsin juvenile female offender project. Madison, WI: Youth Policy and Law Center, Wisconsin Council on Juvenile Project.
Quinton, D., & Rutter, M. (1984). Long-term follow-up of women institutionalized in childhood: Factors promoting good functioning in adult life.British Journal of Developmental Psychopathology, 2, 191–204.
Reid, J. B. (in press). Prevention of conduct disorder before and after school entry: Relating interventions to developmental findings. In D. Cicchetti (Ed.), special edition ofDevelopmental Psychopathology.
Reid, J. B., & Patterson, G. R. (1989). The development of antisocial behavior patterns in childhood and adolescence.European Journal of Personality, 3, 108–119.
Robins, L. N. (1986). Changes in conduct disorder over time. In M. Farran, & J. D. McKinney (Eds.),Risk in intellectual and psychosocial development (pp. 227–259). New York: Academic Press.
Robins, L. N., & Price, R. K. (1991). Adult disorders predicted by childhood conduct problems: Results from the NIMH Epidemiologic Catchment Area Project.Psychiatry, 54, 116–132.
Rutter, M. (1978). Family, area, and school influences in the genesis of conduct disorders. In L. A. Hersov, M. Berger, & D. Shaffer (Eds.),Aggression and antisocial behavior in childhood and adolescence (pp. 147–182). Oxford, England: Pergamon Press.
Rutter, M., & Madge, N. (1976).Cycles of disadvantage. London: Heinemann.
Stattin, H., & Magnusson, D. (1989). The role of early aggressive behavior in the frequency, seriousness, and types of later crime.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 710–718.
Tremblay, R. E., Masse, B., Perron, D., Leblanc, M., Schwartzman, A. E., & Ledingham, J. E. (1992). Early disruptive behavior, poor school achievement, delinquent behavior, and delinquent personality: Longitudinal analyses.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(1), 64–72.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1990).Statistical abstract of the United States. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Warren, M. Q., & Rosenbaum, J. L. (1987). Criminal careers of female offenders.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 13, 393–418.
Widom, C. S. (1978). Towards an understanding of female criminality. In B. A. Maher (Ed.),Progress in experimental personality research: Vol. 1. New York: Academic Press.
Zoccolillo, M., & Rogers, K. (1991). Characteristics and outcome of hospitalized adolescent girls with conduct disorder.Journal of American Academy of Child and adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 973–981.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chamberlain, P., Reid, J.B. Differences in risk factors and adjustment for male and female delinquents in treatment foster care. J Child Fam Stud 3, 23–39 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02233909
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02233909