RT Article
T1 Moral Injury as a Transdiagnostic Risk Factor for Mental Health Problems in Detained Youth
JF Criminal justice and behavior
VO 51
IS 2
SP 194
OP 212
A1 Alexander, Ava R.
A1 Mendez, Lucybel
A1 Kerig, Patricia
A2 Mendez, Lucybel
A2 Kerig, Patricia
LA English
YR 2024
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1880021420
AB Youth who become involved in the juvenile justice system are at highly elevated risk for many emotional and behavioral problems. Past research has often focused on trauma exposure as a transdiagnostic risk factor in this population. However, distress resulting from perpetrating or witnessing acts that conflict with one’s deeply held moral beliefs, termed moral injury, may also play a role in predisposing these youth toward negative mental health outcomes. This study utilized a sample of 96 youth housed in secure detention centers and tested associations between exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) and mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). After controlling for trauma exposure and demographic variables, PMIEs were significantly and positively associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as engagement in NSSI. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.
K1 Mental Health
K1 PTSD
K1 Trauma
K1 Juvenile Justice
K1 Moral Injury
DO 10.1177/00938548231208203