Considering the Mediating Effects of Drug and Alcohol Use, Mental Health, and Their Co-Occurrence on the Adverse Childhood Experiences–Recidivism Relationship

• Date: 01 July 2019
• Published date: 01 July 2019
• Author: Kevin T. Wolff,Michael T. Baglivio,Haley R. Zettler,Jessica M. Craig
• DOI: 10.1177/1541204018796910
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Considering the Mediating

Effects of Drug and Alcohol

Use, Mental Health, and

Their Co-Occurrence

on the Adverse Childhood

Experiences–Recidivism

Relationship

Jessica M. Craig

1

, Haley R. Zettler

2

, Kevin T. Wolff

3

,

and Michael T. Baglivio

4

Abstract

Prior research has demonstrated a relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and

recidivism among justice-involved youth. It has also been found that drug and alcohol use, mental

health, and their co-occurrence increase recidivism. As there is evidence that ACEs increase the

likelihood of both drug and alcohol use and mental health problems, it is surprising that prior

research has yet to examine whether these factors mediate the ACE-recidivism relationship. Using

data from a large sample of adjudicated juveniles in Florida, the current study examines the mediating

effects of drug and alcohol use, mental health problems, and their co-occurrence on the ACEs-

recidivism relationship. For the entire sample, the results found that current drug use, current

mental health problems, and their co-occurrence served as partial mediators of the ACEs-recidivism

relationship. Further, important gender and racial differences in these mediating effects were

revealed. Implications for these findings within justice-involved youth are discussed.

Keywords

recidivism, child maltreatment, comorbidity, substance use, mental health

1

Department of Criminal Justice, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

2

University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA

3

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY, USA

4

Truecore Behavioral Solutions, Tampa, FL, USA

Corresponding Author:

Jessica M. Craig, Department of Criminal Justice, University of North Texas, 410 S. Avenue C, Chilton Hall, 273 L, Denton,

TX 5017, USA.

Email: jessica.craig@unt.edu

Youth Violence and JuvenileJustice

2019, Vol. 17(3) 219-240

ªThe Author(s) 2018

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DOI: 10.1177/1541204018796910

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Since the 1990s, the examination and identi fication of criminogenic risk factors ha s become a

common focus in the study of crime (Farrington, 2000). One recent addition to this literature is the

impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Initially identified in the public health literature,

ACEs refer to a set of negative events that when experienced during an individual’s childhood or

adolescence have been linked to a wide variety of negative life outcomes ranging from chronic

diseases to offending (Bellis, Lowey, Leckenby, Hughes, & Harrison, 2014; Felitti et al., 1998; Fox,

Perez, Cass, Baglivio, & Epps, 2015; Hillis et al., 2004; Hillis, Anda, Felitti, & Marchbanks, 2001).

More recently, scholars have sought to identify potential factors that may moderate the relationship

between ACEs and offending. Evidence from a variety of samples has indicated several factors such

as low substance use, low daring, and low hyperactivity which serve to buffer the harmful effect of

ACEs on later offending (Craig, Baglivio, Wolff, Piquero, & Epps, 2017; Craig, Intravia, Wolff, &

Baglivio, 2017; Craig, Piquero, Farrington, & Ttofi, 2017; Wolff & Baglivio, 2017).

Along with examining these moderating effects, others have considered potential mediators in the

effects of ACEs on later life outcomes. Recent research by Walters and Espelage (2018) found

support for a mediating relationship between victimization and substance use through its impact on

cognitive impulsivity. Douglas and colleagues (2010) examined the potential mediating effects of

mood and anxiety disorders on the relationship between ACEs and substance use and found that

mental health disorders partially mediated the effect of ACEs on substance use risk. These findings

are particularly salient as comorbidity of substance use and mental health issues is known to be

higher among justice-involved youth (Abrantes, Hoffman, & Ant on, 2005; Shufelt & Cocozza,

2006; Teplin, Abram, McClelland, Dulcan, & Mericle, 2002). The current research aims to extend

this area of inquiry, by assessing whether the co-occurrence of mental health problems, drug use, and

alcohol use mediate the effects of ACEs on recidivism. Prior to presenting the central analyses of the

current study, we first offer a discussion of the known effects of both poor mental health and drug/

alcohol use on crime, first individually and then when these two issues are co-occurring. Next, we

turn to the impact of ACEs on crime, mental health, and drug and alcohol use. Finally, we close the

review of the literature with a discussion of the motivation for the current study.

Impact of Mental Health on Crime

Much empirical attention has been devoted to the relationship between mental health and offending

(Silver, Felson, & Vaneseltine, 2008; Silver, Piquero, Jennings, Piquero, & Leiber, 2011; Teplin

et al., 2006). Abram and his colleagues (2004) reported that justice-involved youth had a higher

prevalence of mental health issues than their counterparts outside of the justice system. Among

juvenile offenders, those with a mental illness were also more likely to recidivate than those without

such issues (Prins & Draper, 2009; Skeem, Winter, Kennealy, Louden, & Tatar, 2013). While most

people with mental health issues do not engage in violent behavior and only a small percentage of

violence has been attributed to mental illness (Reuve & Welton, 2008), those with mental illnesses

often exhibit impaired judgment (Silver et al., 2008). This impacts their decision-making, conse-

quently increasing their like lihood of engaging in risky behav ior. It has also been argued that

violence is more likely to occur when the mental disorder involves substance abuse or paranoia

(Elbogin & Johnston, 2009; Link & Stueve, 1995; Steadman et al., 1998).

As Silver, Felson, and Vaneseltine (2008) pointed out, studying the relationship between mental

health and violent criminal behavior is challenging as both issues evidence several of the same risk

factors such as stressful life events, socioeconomic status, gender, and age. In order to control for

many of these risk factors, Silver et al. analyzed a nationally representative sample of inmates to

determine whether those who had been formerly treated for mental health issues had been convicted

of violent offenses, namely, assault and homicide, more than nonviolent offenses. The results

indicated that those who had received mental health-related treatment were more likely to have a

220 Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice 17(3)