Gloede T1,2, Malvaso C1,2, Pilkington R1, Montgomerie A1, Lynch J1
1School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, 2School of Psychology, University of Adelaide
Biography:
I have recently completed my honours degree in Psychological Science at the University of Adelaide with aspirations to continue with postgraduate studies. I am also a youth support worker for Aboriginal Family Support Services, assisting young people living in out-of-home care, which is both a rewarding and a sobering experience that has largely informed my current and ongoing research. I am also an academic mentor for Wirltu Yarlu at the University of Adelaide, providing one-on-one mentoring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. I am also a proud neurodivergent individual.
Purpose: This research has two aims: 1) To identify whether there are distinct groups of young people engaging in different types of risk behaviours between the ages of 10 and 14, and 2) To examine whether these groups differ in terms of child protection and youth justice system contact.
Scope and issue: The associations between child maltreatment and risk behaviours in adolescence are well-established. These behaviours have been conceptualised as a response to developmental trauma (Ford et al., 2012), and have been shown to increase risk for Youth Justice system contact (Modrowski & Kerig, 2017). Understanding whether there are groups of young people who engage in different types of risk behaviours which results in contact with Youth Justice may provide insight into opportunities for early investment and prevention efforts directed towards these groups.
Analysis: Data were sourced from the Better Evidence Better Outcomes Linked Data (BEBOLD) platform, which includes de-identified linked administrative data for children in South Australia born 1991 onwards (N~500,000), their parents and carers. This study utilised data relating to young people born from 1991 to 1995 who were the subject of a Child Protection Adolescent At-Risk (AAR) notification (n=3,798) between ages 10 and 14 years. A latent class analysis was conducted and identified four distinct groups of young people based on different types of AAR notifications. These groups differed in terms of their history of Child Protection notifications, substantiations and placements in out-of-home care, and their contact with Youth Justice by age 18.