View in EDS

The Link between Maltreatment and Juvenile Firesetting: Correlates and Underlying Mechanisms

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Link between Maltreatment and Juvenile Firesetting: Correlates and Underlying Mechanisms
Language: English
Authors: Root, C., MacKay, S., Henderson, J.
Source: Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal. Feb 2008 32(2):161-176.
Availability: Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Physical Description: PDF
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2008
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Substance Abuse, Caregivers, Risk, Child Abuse, Delinquency, Children, Adolescents, Referral, Intervention, Juvenile Justice, Comparative Analysis, Antisocial Behavior, Recidivism, Screening Tests
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.07.004
ISSN: 0145-2134
Abstract: Objective: Despite the widely held belief that abuse is a risk factor for childhood firesetting, the role of maltreatment in firesetting is largely unexplored. This study reports on a sample of children and adolescents referred to a brief assessment and intervention program for juvenile firesetters. Firesetting histories of maltreated youth were compared to a group of firesetting youth with no maltreatment history. Methods: Participants included 205 children and youth aged 4-17 years and their caregivers. Assessments were completed with a standardized protocol. Forty-eight percent of the sample had a history of maltreatment as reported by caregivers; 26% of the sample had experienced more than one type of maltreatment. Results: When compared to the non-maltreated group, children with histories of maltreatment demonstrated more frequent fire involvement, more versatility regarding ignition sources and targets, and a greater likelihood of an immediate family stressor as a motive for firesetting (all p less than 0.05). Maltreated children were more likely to become involved with fire out of anger (p = 0.001), and there was also a trend towards higher rates of recidivism (p = 0.07). Children's externalizing behavior partially mediated the influence of maltreatment on specific fire-related outcomes of children (OR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.04-1.17; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Within a juvenile firesetting population, the presence of maltreatment is a risk factor for a more severe course of firesetting. The findings also suggest that the link between maltreatment and firesetting is operating partially through heightened emotional and behavioral difficulties. Practice implications: This study demonstrates that maltreatment is a risk factor that contributes to a more severe course of juvenile fire involvement, and that the link between maltreatment and firesetting operates largely through heightened behavioral and emotional difficulties. These findings highlight the need for mental health clinicians to (a) be aware that these two serious clinical issues frequently co-occur, (b) screen for fire-related behaviors and maltreatment during general assessments, and (c) consider maltreatment status when thinking about the risk of firesetting.
Abstractor: Author
Entry Date: 2008
Accession Number: EJ788650
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ788650
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The Link between Maltreatment and Juvenile Firesetting: Correlates and Underlying Mechanisms
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Root%2C+C%2E%22">Root, C.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22MacKay%2C+S%2E%22">MacKay, S.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Henderson%2C+J%2E%22">Henderson, J.</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Child+Abuse+%26+Neglect%3A+The+International+Journal%22"><i>Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal</i></searchLink>. Feb 2008 32(2):161-176.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: PhysDesc
  Label: Physical Description
  Group: PhysDesc
  Data: PDF
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 16
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2008
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Substance+Abuse%22">Substance Abuse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Caregivers%22">Caregivers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk%22">Risk</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Abuse%22">Child Abuse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Delinquency%22">Delinquency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Referral%22">Referral</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Juvenile+Justice%22">Juvenile Justice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comparative+Analysis%22">Comparative Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Antisocial+Behavior%22">Antisocial Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Recidivism%22">Recidivism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Screening+Tests%22">Screening Tests</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.07.004
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0145-2134
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objective: Despite the widely held belief that abuse is a risk factor for childhood firesetting, the role of maltreatment in firesetting is largely unexplored. This study reports on a sample of children and adolescents referred to a brief assessment and intervention program for juvenile firesetters. Firesetting histories of maltreated youth were compared to a group of firesetting youth with no maltreatment history. Methods: Participants included 205 children and youth aged 4-17 years and their caregivers. Assessments were completed with a standardized protocol. Forty-eight percent of the sample had a history of maltreatment as reported by caregivers; 26% of the sample had experienced more than one type of maltreatment. Results: When compared to the non-maltreated group, children with histories of maltreatment demonstrated more frequent fire involvement, more versatility regarding ignition sources and targets, and a greater likelihood of an immediate family stressor as a motive for firesetting (all p less than 0.05). Maltreated children were more likely to become involved with fire out of anger (p = 0.001), and there was also a trend towards higher rates of recidivism (p = 0.07). Children's externalizing behavior partially mediated the influence of maltreatment on specific fire-related outcomes of children (OR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.04-1.17; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Within a juvenile firesetting population, the presence of maltreatment is a risk factor for a more severe course of firesetting. The findings also suggest that the link between maltreatment and firesetting is operating partially through heightened emotional and behavioral difficulties. Practice implications: This study demonstrates that maltreatment is a risk factor that contributes to a more severe course of juvenile fire involvement, and that the link between maltreatment and firesetting operates largely through heightened behavioral and emotional difficulties. These findings highlight the need for mental health clinicians to (a) be aware that these two serious clinical issues frequently co-occur, (b) screen for fire-related behaviors and maltreatment during general assessments, and (c) consider maltreatment status when thinking about the risk of firesetting.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: Author
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2008
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ788650
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ788650
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.07.004
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 161
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Substance Abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Caregivers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Delinquency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Referral
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Juvenile Justice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comparative Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Antisocial Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Recidivism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Screening Tests
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Link between Maltreatment and Juvenile Firesetting: Correlates and Underlying Mechanisms
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Root, C.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: MacKay, S.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Henderson, J.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Type: published
              Y: 2008
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0145-2134
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 32
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal
              Type: main
ResultId 1