Publicação
Adverse childhood experiences, symptomatology and positive thoughts in sex offenders and the general population
| Resumo: | Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include situations of family dysfunction and/or victimization, which are often related to depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms in adulthood. Positive thoughts can reduce the levels of these symptoms. Objectives: Compare a sample of sex offenders and a sample of the general population in terms of ACEs, symptomatology and positive thoughts and analyze the relationship between these variables. Participants The sample includes adult males, 168 serving time for sex crimes, aged between 23 and 84, and 213 from the general population aged between 19 and 77. Method: Application of a sociodemographic questionnaire, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and Positive Thinking Skills Scale (PTSS). Results: Negative correlations were observed between PTSS and ACEs in offenders, and between PTSS, ACEs and depression in the general population. Sex offenders have higher ACEs and DASS scores compared to the general population. Child sex offenders have higher scores on the parental divorce subscale, while rapists have higher levels of PTSS. Linear regression revealed that marital status and the presence of mental illness or suicide in the family are predictors of symptomatology, while emotional neglect is also a significant predictor of stress. Conclusion: The study highlights the impact of ACEs on symptomatology in adulthood and the differences between the general population and sex offenders in some of the variables studied. This study reinforces the need for a comprehensive approach to preventing crime. |
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| Autores principais: | Proença, Joana Margarida Pita |
| Assunto: | Adverse childhood experiences Symptomatology Positive thoughts Sex offenders General population |
| Ano: | 2024 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso restrito |
| Instituição associada: | Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL |
| Resumo: | Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include situations of family dysfunction and/or victimization, which are often related to depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms in adulthood. Positive thoughts can reduce the levels of these symptoms. Objectives: Compare a sample of sex offenders and a sample of the general population in terms of ACEs, symptomatology and positive thoughts and analyze the relationship between these variables. Participants The sample includes adult males, 168 serving time for sex crimes, aged between 23 and 84, and 213 from the general population aged between 19 and 77. Method: Application of a sociodemographic questionnaire, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and Positive Thinking Skills Scale (PTSS). Results: Negative correlations were observed between PTSS and ACEs in offenders, and between PTSS, ACEs and depression in the general population. Sex offenders have higher ACEs and DASS scores compared to the general population. Child sex offenders have higher scores on the parental divorce subscale, while rapists have higher levels of PTSS. Linear regression revealed that marital status and the presence of mental illness or suicide in the family are predictors of symptomatology, while emotional neglect is also a significant predictor of stress. Conclusion: The study highlights the impact of ACEs on symptomatology in adulthood and the differences between the general population and sex offenders in some of the variables studied. This study reinforces the need for a comprehensive approach to preventing crime. |
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