| dc.description.abstract | Assessment of delinquent youth typically centers around deficits and pathologies. There is an
emerging consensus that identifying strengths and protective factors is crucial to develop
programs that adequately address the needs of troubled youth (Epstein, Rudolph, and Epstein,
2000; Hoge, Andrews, and Leschied, 1996). Strengths and protective factors may also be
important determinants of how youth respond to treatment and incarceration. Research points to
healthy family functioning, pro-social attitudes, positive peer relationships, and school
adjustment as variables which contribute to the resilience of at-risk and delinquent youth. Some
research suggests that even youth at high risk for conduct and behavioural problems, may be
resilient as a function o f the presence of important protective variables. The present study
examined the relationships between strengths in family functioning, school functioning, and
peer relations on both self-reported behaviour and staff behavioural reports o f incarcerated
adolescents. Interactions between these strengths and risk factors, in areas including family
functioning, attitudes, and personality and behaviours were also examined, to determine the
mitigating effect of strengths on risk factors. Findings indicated that risk factors, (i.e., overall
risk level, risk in personality and behaviour, and attitudes and orientation), and family and peer
relationships, specifically attachment, were related to outcome measures of self-reported
difficulties, delinquency, aggression, and staff reported behavioural incidents. The findings with
regard to formalized strength-based assessment did not implicate this assessment strategy as a
useful one for predicting youth’s behaviour while incarcerated. These findings are discussed
within the context of strength-based theory, as well as findings of research conducted on risk
and delinquency, and attachment and delinquency. Limitations and directions for future research
are also discussed. | |
