Psychoanalysis.  2013 Oct;24(2):86-91.

Discrepancy in Parent-Adolescent Reports on Childhood Trauma Experience: Comparison Delinquent Adolescents to General Adolescents

• Yu J
• Park DH
• Ryu SH
• Ha JH
• Park J
• Kim S
• Seo MJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to investigate whether the discrepancies in parent-adolescent reports on childhood traumatic experiences would be related to adolescent adjustment, by comparing delinquent adolescents to general.
METHODS
A total of 74 delinquent adolescents at a juvenile detention center and their parents completed childhood trauma questionnaires (CTQ). In the same way, 194 general adolescents and their parents completed CTQ as well. Comparison analyses between delinquent and general adolescents were conducted. To figure out the discrepancy of parents-adolescents' report, parents' CTQ scores were subtracted from adolescents' scores and then differences were compared between general and delinquent groups. Finally, chisquared tests were performed to find out different aspects in discrepancies.
RESULTS
There was a statistically significant discrepancy in reports on childhood trauma between parents and adolescents in delinquent group rather than those in general group. In addition, the proportion of the subjects which only parents reported their adolescents' childhood trauma was significantly higher in the delinquent group than general group, especially on physical abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect.
CONCLUSION
The wider gap of perceived childhood trauma between delinquent adolescents themselves and their parents means it could be related to later psychosocial maladjustment.

Keyword

Child abuse; Juvenile delinquency; Adolescents; Parent child relation

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Child
Child Abuse
Humans
Juvenile Delinquency
Parents
Surveys and Questionnaires