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Mental health diagnosis and perceptions of juvenile delinquent behaviors: the impact of ethnicity

dc.contributor.authorMalach, Steffany L., author
dc.contributor.authorRosen, Lee A., advisor
dc.contributor.authorBloom, Larry J., committee member
dc.contributor.authorBundy-Fazioli, Kimberly, committee member
dc.contributor.authorSwaim, Randall, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2022-04-15T15:26:00Z
dc.date.available2022-04-15T15:26:00Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.descriptionCovers not scanned.
dc.descriptionPrint version deaccessioned 2022.
dc.description.abstractRecent reports indicate that as much as 60 to 75 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Reports further indicate a wide disparity of disposition at all stages of juvenile judicial decision-making according to a juvenile’s ethnicity. Delinquent behavior is often a symptom of commonly occurring childhood mental health disorders, and differences based on ethnicity in both entrance into the juvenile justice system, outcomes of adjudication, and referral to mental health resources has yet to be widely explored. The present study sought to examine how the presence of a mental health diagnosis affects perceptions of juveniles of different ethnicities who engage in delinquent behaviors. Eight hundred forty six female and male university undergraduates read one of six vignettes depicting a juvenile, who was presented as Hispanic, African American, or Non-Hispanic White, engaged in a delinquent behavior. The juvenile was identified as having either ADHD, Conduct Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, Abuse/Neglect, or No Mental Illness. Participants expressed their perception of the juvenile’s culpability for the given behavior, their conceptualization of the juvenile’s character, and rated the amount of punishment and treatment they recommended. Results indicated that knowledge about a juvenile’s ethnicity did not affect the amount of psychiatric treatment or seventy of punishment recommended for the juvenile, nor did it significantly impact overall conceptualization or willingness to forgive the Juvenile. Having received information about the juvenile’s mental health status, however, was shown to affect how positively or negatively the juvenile was viewed in general, the amount of psychiatric treatment recommended, and the severity of recommended punishment. Results further indicated that female participants were more likely to forgive the juvenile for his behavior than were males. Implications of these findings for the juvenile justice system are discussed.
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/234704
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relationCatalog record number (MMS ID): 991014670479703361
dc.relationHV9069 .M354 2010
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectJuvenile delinquency -- United States -- Psychological aspects -- Cross-cultural studies
dc.subjectJuvenile delinquency -- United States -- Cross-cultural studies
dc.titleMental health diagnosis and perceptions of juvenile delinquent behaviors: the impact of ethnicity
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

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