Prospective Relationships Among Depression and Perceived Opportunity in Juvenile Offenders

• NCJ Number: 310240
• Journal: Behavior Therapy Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Dated: Jan 2025 Pages: 177-191
• Author(s): Michael F. Sandella; Gavin N. Rackoff; Michelle G. Newman
• Date Published: July 2024
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2008-IJ-CX-0023; 2007-MU-FX-0002; 2005-JK-FX-K001; 2000-MU-MU-0007; 99-IJ-CX-0053
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Pathways to Desistance

Annotation

This article examines the relationship between juvenile offenders’ perceived opportunity and depression over time, using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model, which allowed estimation and adjustment for average levels of the variables of interest in examination of their within-person relationships; the article presents the researchers’ methodology, findings, and implications for long-term rehabilitation of justice-involved youth.

Abstract

Among juveniles in the justice system, depression and perceived opportunity have implications for long-term adjustment. The prospective associations between these two constructs have not yet been examined in this population. The authors studied the longitudinal association between depression and perceived opportunity in a sample of recently adjudicated juvenile offenders. Juvenile offenders (n = 1,354) completed measures of depression and perceived opportunity shortly after adjudication and then every six months thereafter for three years (seven time points, total). Relative to White juvenile offenders, lower average levels of perceived opportunity were observed among Black, Hispanic, and juveniles of other races/ethnicities. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed that greater depression was associated with lower subsequent perceived opportunity (d = -0.22, p < .001). Higher perceived opportunity did not predict subsequent depression (d = -0.07, p = .208). The nonexperimental design prevented inferences about causal links between depression and perceived opportunity. Results should also be replicated in a recently collected dataset. Findings suggested a scar-like effect, such that depression was unidirectionally and negatively associated with lower future perceived opportunity among juveniles. Future research should investigate if treatment for depression improves juvenile offenders’ perceived opportunity. (Published Abstract Provided)