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Posttraumatic Stress as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Trauma and Mental Health Problems Among Juvenile Delinquents

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Abstract

This study investigated the interrelationships among trauma exposure, PTSD, and mental health problems in a sample of 289 adolescents (199 male, 90 female) detained in a juvenile correctional facility. Mean differences were found in that females scored higher than males on measures of interpersonal trauma exposure and symptoms of both simple and complex PTSD. Females also endorsed more mental health problems in the areas of depression/anxiety, somatic complaints, and suicidal ideation. For all youth, trauma exposure, PTSD, and mental health problems were correlated. Results of structural equation modeling were consistent with the hypothesis that PTSD mediates the relationship between interpersonal trauma and mental health problems for all youth, although the results were stronger for females.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by a grant from the Butler County Family and Children First Council. The authors wish to thank Jolynn Hurwitz, Robert Clevenger, Thomas Barnes, the youth who so bravely shared their experiences with us, and the Miami University students who assisted with the project: Julie Swanson, Raven Cuellar, Angela Volz, Emily Kamon, Kristin Briggs, and Carol Humphreys.

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  1. Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA

    Patricia K. Kerig, Rose Marie Ward, Karin L. Vanderzee & Melissa Arnzen Moeddel

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  1. Patricia K. Kerig
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Correspondence to Patricia K. Kerig.

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Kerig, P.K., Ward, R.M., Vanderzee, K.L. et al. Posttraumatic Stress as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Trauma and Mental Health Problems Among Juvenile Delinquents. J Youth Adolescence 38, 1214–1225 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9332-5

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