The long-term effects of childhood maltreatment on juveniles' delinquency : an attachment theory perspective

Abstract

The current research study examines the impact of insecure attachment styles on the development of delinquency in adolescence, with an emphasis on the effect of early maltreatment on the strength of that relationships. The sample consisted of 48 (10 females and 38 males) incarcerated juveniles at the Central Prison in Roumieh, the Block of the Juvenile Building, in Lebanon. Data were gathered through one-on-one interviews, using the Attitude Toward Delinquency – Pittsburgh Youth Study questionnaire (ATD), the Experiences in Close Relationships, Revised General Short Form inventory (ECR-R-GSF) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF). A Pearson bivariate correlation was used to concisely analyze the correlation between history of childhood maltreatment and insecure attachment styles. Also, a paired samples T-Test analysis was conducted to determine the difference between the means of both avoidant and anxious attachment types. And lastly, an ANOVA was used to determine through statistical evidence whether the groups of incarcerated juveniles exposed to severe versus moderate history of childhood abuse’ significantly differed in avoidant and anxious insecure attachment. The statistical analyses showed that a history of childhood maltreatment was positively correlated with anxious attachment, no correlation was existing between childhood maltreatment and attitudes towards delinquency, no prevalent attachment nor significant difference was found between avoidant and anxious attachment in relation to the incarcerated juveniles, and these latter who have been exposed to either severe or moderate history of abuse were found to be more characteristic of an anxious attachment rather than avoidant. Results were explored in light of previous existing literature, within the context of attachment styles and childhood maltreatment. Further future replications recruiting a bigger sample of adolescence should be conducted for exploration of the relationship between insecure attachment styles, childhood maltreatment and antisocial behavior.