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Abstract
Prior research has indicated that juvenile offenders report high prevalence of trauma exposure (Ford, Chapman, Hawke, & Albert, 2007). However, specific relationships between traumatic events and their aggressive sequalae need further elucidation in order to help understand the connections between trauma exposure, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
symptoms and types of aggression. In particular, the relationship between trauma symptoms and aggression may present itself differently depending on the specific trauma events endorsed by juvenile offenders (e.g., family vs. community violence). The present study will focus on this relationship, specifically identifying subgroups of male juvenile offenders based on (a) their self- report of single versus multiple trauma event exposures and (b) and their differences in self-reported trauma symptoms and levels of aggression. Additionally, understanding the relationship between specific traumatic events (e.g., family and community violence) and aggression is necessary to develop appropriate screening and assessment procedures. The present study will allow us to explore the most effective ways of using a brief trauma screening tool. Will the standard approach of asking juvenile offenders to self select a single trauma event provide a
comprehensive assessment of PTSD symptomatology? Conversely, will redirecting juvenile offenders to fill out the screening tool based on multiple trauma events allow us to better detect meaningful distinctions of PTD symptomatic presentation? Determining whether there is a difference in these approaches may help tailor assessments and interventions to each juvenile offender.
