Juvenile Delinquency: ADHD and Antisocial Behavior
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is, in basic terms, a mental health disorder typified by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses (NAMI), approximately 1 out of every 10 children in the U.S. is living with ADHD, yet only 56% of these receive treatment or even diagnosis for the same. This text attempts to establish a connection between ADHD and juvenile delinquency.
Significance
Scores of researchers have identified untreated ADHD as a risk factor for future delinquent/antisocial behavior. The NAMI expresses that 47% of youths in juvenile correctional facilities are living with ADHD. Foley, et al.'s (1996) findings mirror this perspective. In their view, adolescents living with ADHD have a higher likelihood of arrest (58% to 36%), compared to their age mates without the condition. These findings depict a strong, positive correlation between ADHD and juvenile/adult delinquency. This can rightly be translated to mean that the early diagnosis and treatment of ADHD could go a long way in reducing overall resultant crime levels. Early diagnosis and treatment is, however, only possible if parents and caretakers are given adequate education on the risk factors and identifiable symptoms of ADHD.
ADHD and/or Delinquency: Predisposing Factors
Foley, et al. (1996, p. 337) identify three categories of factors that not only predispose a child to ADHD, but also co-occur with the same in the manifestation of antisocial behavior: Familial Factors: these collectively refer to those factors within the family unit that could prevent a child from obtaining the necessary parental guidance, care or supervision needed for their complete development. Key factors in this regard include poor marital relations, inadequate parental involvement in the child's development, and negative...
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