Description
The research on female juvenile gang members is limited in scope and research has not yet examined mental health issues in this population. This study examines the case histories of 127 female juvenile gang members who were arrested by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. To add to the limited gender-specific research on female juvenile gang members, data are presented regarding this population's mental health problems, childhood maltreatment, substance abuse problems, age of contact with the juvenile justice system, and other factors salient to female juvenile gang members' prevention, treatment, and intervention needs. Female juvenile gang members who had a mental health diagnosis were significantly more likely to report childhood maltreatment. Female juvenile gang members who were younger at their age of first arrest were significantly more likely to report chronic substance use. Clinical levels of anger-irritability and depression-anxiety were found for approximately half of female juvenile gang members and suicide ideation was found for approximately one fourth. These findings have important implications for practitioners and gender-specific prevention, intervention, and treatment programs targeted specifically for female juvenile gang members.
Details
Title
- Assessing the treatment needs of female juvenile gang members: an exploratory study
Contributors
- Downing, Leigh Anne (Author)
- Roe-Sepowitz, Dominique (Thesis advisor)
- Anthony, Elizabeth (Committee member)
- Jackson, Kelly (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2012
Subjects
- Social Work
- criminology
- psychology
- Anger
- Delinquency
- Depression
- Drug use
- Gangs
- Juvenile
- Female gang members--Florida--Case studies.
- Female gang members
- Female gang members--Mental health--Florida--Case studies.
- Female gang members
- Female gang members--Substance use--Florida--Case studies.
- Female gang members
- Child abuse--Florida--Psychological aspects--Case studies.
- Child Abuse
- Juvenile delinquents--Rehabilitation--Florida--Case studies.
- Juvenile delinquents
Resource Type
Collections this item is in
Note
- thesisPartial requirement for: M.S.W., Arizona State University, 2012
- bibliographyIncludes bibliographical references (p. 81-86)
- Field of study: Social work
Citation and reuse
Statement of Responsibility
Leigh Anne Downing