Year: 2025
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: This systematic review and meta-analysis examine the impact of domestic violence, with an emphasis on childhood physical and sexual abuse, on juvenile delinquency. By integrating various theoretical frameworks, including Aker's social learning theory and the cycle of violence theory, this research investigates the impact of exposure to abusive settings on the development of antisocial behaviors. The meta-analysis specifically focuses on the relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and tendencies toward delinquent behaviors, revealing significant associations between CSA and increased delinquency risk. The analysis highlights the significant mediating influence of callous-unemotional traits in connecting childhood maltreatment to aggressive behaviors. The results demonstrate that childhood abuse, encompassing both sexual and physical abuse, has lasting effects on psychological well-being and criminal behavior during adolescence. Despite high heterogeneity in effect sizes, the analysis underscores the consistent protective effect of early interventions in reducing long-term delinquency risks. This analysis underscores the urgent necessity for proactive strategies aimed at combating childhood abuse and reducing its capacity to cultivate delinquent behaviors.
Author: Shijia Su
Institution: University of Sheffield
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4406035353