Risk profiles for antisocial behavior in adolescents placed in residential care

Lorena Maneiro, José Antonio Gómez-Fraguela, Laura López-Romero, Olalla Cutrín, Jorge Sobral - Children and Youth Services Review

Abstract

Adolescents who are placed in Residential Care (RC) show an increased risk of antisocial behavior. From a restorative perspective, it has been proposed that interventions carried out in RC might significantly reduce the probability of negative consequences in adolescents, provided that they are adapted to the specific needs of this population. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to identify different subgroups of adolescents placed in RC on the basis of different dynamic factors and analyze their relation with antisocial behavior and family violence. For that purpose, the sample was composed of 145 adolescents aged 11 to 19 (M = 14.80; SD = 1.80), 59.3% males, from 19 out-of home centers in Galicia (NW Spain). Information was collected through the Juvenile Offender's Risk Assessment (VRAI) protocol. Results show three specific risk profiles that were identified on the basis of different dynamic factors: a low-risk, a middle-risk, and a high-risk profile. The high-risk group revealed the highest scores on different types of antisocial behavior whereas the low-risk group evidenced the opposite pattern of risk, with relationships with antisocial behavior being the weakest. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for the Child Welfare System and contribute to the development of specific intervention strategies in RC.