Linking child abuse and neglect to violent and non-violent offending in early adulthood

Research has shown that child maltreatment is associated with poor behavioral outcomes in childhood and adolescence. Few studies have examined the long-term impacts of maltreatment, or whether outcomes vary by the type or timing of maltreatment. This investigation uses prospective data from the Chicago Longitudinal Study, a panel study of 1,539 minority children from low-income families, to address the following questions: (1) Is substantiated maltreatment (age 4-17) associated with criminal offending in early adulthood (age 18-24), including violent and non-violent outcomes? (2) Do offending patterns vary among physically abused and neglected children? (3) Do offending patterns vary by the age of first maltreatment report?

Results indicated that substantiated maltreatment was significantly associated with having an arrest conviction and with being incarcerated. Maltreatment also significantly predicted having a substance-related arrest conviction but did not predict having a violent arrest conviction. Neglect and physical abuse were significantly associated with all outcomes except violent offending. Earlier (ages 4-9) and later (ages 10-17) maltreatment indicators were significantly associated with increased conviction and incarceration rates. Yet, whereas earlier maltreatment was associated with substance-related and violent offending, later maltreatment was not. This study adds to emerging evidence linking child maltreatment overall, and both physical abuse and neglect specifically, to long-term behavioral problems. Results also indicate that offending patterns may vary by the timing of maltreatment. Findings suggest that programs designed to prevent maltreatment or mitigate its consequences may benefit from addressing multiple types of abuse and neglect and tailoring services to specific age groups.