Joana Sofia Teles Oliveira Martins
Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports, Lusófona University of Porto (ULP), Rua Augusto Rosa 24, 4000-098 Porto, Portugal
Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis
UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Praça 9 de Abril 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
Sónia Maria Martins Caridade
Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Porto 4249-004, Portugal
Hélder Fernando Pedrosa E Sousa
University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Department of Mathematics (DM. UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Andreia De Paiva Ribeiro De Moura
Digital Human-Environment Interaction Lab (HEI-Lab), Lusófona University of Porto (ULP), Rua Augusto Rosa 24, 4000-098 Porto, Portugal
Abstract:
Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been identified as a risk factor for the development of mental health and behavioural outcomes throughout life, including delinquent behaviours. This article focuses on the relationship between ACEs and delinquent behaviour (DB), seeking to identify predictors and mediating variables. Methods: The quantitative study comprised 175 Portuguese adolescents, aged 12 and 17 years of age (M = 14.99, SD = 2.26). Results: ACEs and exposure to traumatic events (ETE) are predictive of DB. Antisocial traits (AT) was found to be mediating the relationship between ACEs and DB, as well as the relation between ETE and DB. Conclusion: The results indicate that it is necessary that professionals in health behaviour field prevent and intervene in ACEs and in ETE, both predictors of DB. The results of this study allow to understand the role of ACEs in DB and its mediating variables, which must be considered to mitigate the harmful impact of ACEs in DB.
Keywords:Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), exposure to traumatic events (ETE), delinquent behaviour (DB), antisocial traits (AT), mediating variables.