Inês Isabel Mendes de Castro Coelho, Educational psychologist at Almirante Reis Vocational School (EPAR), Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal.
Ana Cristina Neves, Assistant professor at Egas Moniz University Institute and Researcher at the Interdisciplinary Research Center Egas Moniz, Egas Moniz University Institute, Almada, Portugal.
Sónia Caridade, Assistant professor at University Fernando Pessoa (UFP) and Researcher at the Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies (CIEG) of the Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ISCSP-UL), University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal.
Image: Robert Collins on Unsplash
The article “Risk factors for antisocial behavior in children: comparison between boys and girls” published in the journal Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas, vol. 37), characterized the risk factors for the occurrence of antisocial behavior seeking to understand if there are differences between boys and girls. More specifically, tried to analyze the factors and level of the risk of the children identified by antisocial behaviors; verify there is association between sex, age and antisocial behavior type with the factors and level of the risk. This study was realized by researchers at Fernando Pessoa University and Egas Moniz University Institute, based on the master degree dissertation in justice Psychology, and was development 2016 to 2018. In Portugal, the Commission for the Protection of Children and Youngsters (CPCJ’s) has been registered an increase of the antisocial behaviors, as well as the recidivism these behaviors at adolescent and adulthood (COELHO; NEVES; CARIDADE, 2020). In this sense, this study contributes to identification of the intervention priorities, as well as appeal to attention for a primary prevention. Thus, it would be important that the other institutions/entities (e.g., schools, social entities, CPC’s) that work for the good behavioral development of children prevent the occurrence of these behaviors (GAVEN; LIMA, 2011).
The present study is quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and correlacional, using heterorrelate measures and files analysis. The sample of this investigation was taken from a CPCJ, all files open between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2015, which reason for referral was associated with the display of antisocial behavior by children between 6 and 11 years of age. The final study sample consisted of 85 cases referring to 65 male (76.5%) and 20 female (23.5%) children; the participants’ ages ranged from six to eleven. Of the 85 children, 39 (45.9%) were referred for adopting antisocial behaviors of school truancy or dropout; 21 (24.7%) for adopting violent antisocial behaviors (e.g., physical aggression); 14 (16.5%) for antisocial oppositional behavior at school and at home, and finally, 11 (12.9%) for nonviolent antisocial behaviors (e.g., threats). The instruments used in this study were the Portuguese version of the Early Assessment Risk List for boys (EARL-20B) and the Early Assessment Risk List for girls (EARL-21G) (AUGIMERI et al., 2001; LEVENE et al., 2001). These instruments are divided into three sections – family, child and responsiveness. In terms of procedure, after several approvals, both by the authors of the instruments, as well as by the Ethics Committee of Universities and partner entities, translations of the instruments and data collection and analysis began.
The results of the present study contribute to the identification of intervention priorities, suggesting that they may be different depending on gender. On the other hand, this study demonstrated the need for primary prevention associated with this problem. Thus, it would be important that the other institutions/entities that work for the good behavioral development of children prevent the occurrence of these behaviors (GAVEN; LIMA, 2011). The results also showed that the risk factors tend to accumulate with age, which confirms the importance of intervening early. In this sense, preventive interventions that focus on risk factors specific to each sex, as well as from different contexts and populations will be the ones that offer the greatest success in reducing future criminal behavior (COELHO; NEVES; CARIDADE, 2020).
In conclusion, the development of prospective longitudinal studies is suggested, in order to predict risk factors associated with this problem, to work towards an appropriate intervention, as well as the appropriate monitoring of these families and children. On the other hand, and based on the results described above, it is suggested to conduct investigations that include samples from different age groups, not only for a comparison study of risk factors, but also to assist the field professionals (e.g., in CPCJ) in identifying the most effective interventions, depending on age, as noted above. Regarding the comparison between boys and girls, it is recommended that studies be conducted to analyze behaviors classified as “antisocial”, such as bullying and other types of violent behavior, as these issues have been a concern of today’s society.
It is also recommended, the reading and studying of the Child Development Institute site (https://childdevelop.ca/snap/) for the increase the discussion about this theme.
In a row we invite the readers for assists the video with comments by Inês Isabel Mendes de Coelho about the study developed.
References
AUGIMERI, L.K., et al. Early assessment risk list for boys: EARL-20B, version 2. Toronto, ON: Earlscourt Child and Family Centre, 2001.
GAVEN, E. and LIMA, L.W. Reinserção social: processo que implica continuidade e cooperação. Serviço Social & Saúde, 2011, vol. 5, no. 11, pp. 113-129. ISSN: 2446-5992 [viewed 17 April 2020]. DOI: 10.20396/sss.v10i1.1380. Avaliable from: https://periodicos.sbu.unicamp.br/ojs/index.php/sss/article/view/1380
LEVENE, S., et al. Early assessment risk list for girls: EARL-21G, Version 1, Consultation Edition. Toronto, ON: Earlscourt Child and Family Centre, 2001.
To read the article, access
COELHO, I. C.; NEVES, A. C. and CARIDADE, S. Risk factors for antisocial behavior in children: comparison between boys and girls. Estud. psicol. (Campinas) [online]. 2020, vol. 37, e190027, ISSN 0103-166X [viewed 28 April 2020]. DOI: 10.1590/1982-0275202037e190027. Available from: http://ref.scielo.org/y86wxx
External links
Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas) – ESTPSI: www.scielo.br/estpsi
https://www.egasmoniz.com.pt/pt-pt.aspx
About Inês Isabel Mendes de Castro Coelho
Psychologist, Master degree in Justice Psychology: victims of violence and crime by Fernando Pessoa University (2018). Carry out your activities like educational psychologist at a vocational school, and is also involved in several international studies/projects about antisocial and delinquent behavior on children and youngsters (e.g., Youth Empowerment and Innovation Project; SafeSchool).
E-mail: 35653@ufp.edu.pt
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/in%C3%AAs-coelho-019334157
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