Child maltreatment and adult criminal behavior: Does criminal thinking explain the association?

Authors

Lorraine E. Cuadra, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Anna E. Jaffe, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Renu Thomas, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
David DiLillo, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

Published in Child Abuse & Neglect 38:8 (2014), pp. 1399-1408; doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.02.005

Comments

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Used by permission.

Abstract

Criminal thinking styles were examined as mediational links between different forms of child maltreatment (i.e., sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect) and adult criminal behaviors in 338 recently adjudicated men. Analyses revealed positive associations between child sexual abuse and sexual offenses as an adult, and between child physical abuse/neglect and endorsing proactive and reactive criminal thinking styles. Mediation analyses showed that associations between overall maltreatment history and adult criminal behaviors were accounted for by general criminal thinking styles and both proactive and reactive criminal thinking. These findings suggest a potential psychological pathway to criminal behavior associated with child maltreatment. Limitations of the study as well as research and clinical implications of the results are discussed.