Adverse Childhood Experiences and Juvenile Offending: Client-Factor Variations and a Novel Intervention Approach
type: CreativeWork
description: Adverse childhood experiences have consistently been identified as risk factors for juvenile offending. However, this relationship is complex and varies based on individual factors. This critical literature review not only examined the current research on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and juvenile offending but also identified client factor variations that influence the relationship. Client factors examined throughout include race/ethnicity, gender, age, internalized and externalized mental health symptoms, positive internal factors, familial and external social support, educational engagement, environmental factors, and positive childhood experiences. The relationship is further complicated by examining the effects of multiple client-factor variations on the adverse childhood experiences and juvenile offending relationships. After reviewing the current research on the impact of client-factor variations, there is a literature review of recently published meta-analyses that analyze the efficacy of secondary prevention interventions that prevent juvenile offending in at-risk youth who have high adverse childhood experiences. Based on the information discussed throughout the critical literature review, this dissertation concludes with a proposed model for identifying and treating youth with high adverse childhood experience scores who are at risk of juvenile offending.
abstract: Adverse childhood experiences have consistently been identified as risk factors for juvenile offending. However, this relationship is complex and varies based on individual factors. This critical literature review not only examined the current research on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and juvenile offending but also identified client factor variations that influence the relationship. Client factors examined throughout include race/ethnicity, gender, age, internalized and externalized mental health symptoms, positive internal factors, familial and external social support, educational engagement, environmental factors, and positive childhood experiences. The relationship is further complicated by examining the effects of multiple client-factor variations on the adverse childhood experiences and juvenile offending relationships. After reviewing the current research on the impact of client-factor variations, there is a literature review of recently published meta-analyses that analyze the efficacy of secondary prevention interventions that prevent juvenile offending in at-risk youth who have high adverse childhood experiences. Based on the information discussed throughout the critical literature review, this dissertation concludes with a proposed model for identifying and treating youth with high adverse childhood experience scores who are at risk of juvenile offending.
author: Dobreff, Madison M
keywords: Adverse Childhood Experiences, ACEs, Juvenile Offending, Client Factors, Intervention, Child Psychology, Criminology
date published: 2026-08-01T07:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:21:46Z
provider: National-Louis University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: National-Louis University