Developmental factors and drug use in young offenders
| Date | 13 March 2017 |
| Pages | 51-60 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-10-2016-0025 |
| Published date | 13 March 2017 |
| Author | Adele Madden,Carol A. Ireland |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Developmental factors and drug use
in young offenders
Adele Madden and Carol A. Ireland
Abstract
Purpose –Young offenders are known to have more chaotic experiences in childhood than non-offenders,
and this impacts on their attachments, coping styles and early maladaptive schemas (EMS). The purpose of
this paper is to explore the relationship between these factors and drug use.
Design/methodology/approach –This study used self-report questionnaires on a sample of 105
incarcerated young offenders.
Findings –Attachment styles did not differentiate drug users from non-drug users. Drug users were found to
be no more likely than non-drug users to use avoidant coping styles. However, they were more likely to have
emotional coping styles. Drug users had more EMS, and overall, those with insecure attachments had more
EMS. Individuals with emotional coping styles scored higher than those with rational coping styles on several
EMS. Those with emotional coping styles scored lower on the emotional inhibition EMS than those with
rational coping styles.
Practical implications –The evidence presented has implications for the understanding of drug use in
young offenders by: providing support to the model proposed by Young et al. (2003) regarding how insecure
attachments can contribute to EMS; providing support for Crittenden’s (2008) model of attachment whereby
problematic behaviours such as drug use can be a strategy the individual uses to protect themselves at times
of threat or discomfort; highlighting the need for an integrated model of substance use in offenders which
incorporates early experiences, attachments and EMS; and highlighting why substance use may become a
coping strategy in young offenders and how to engage them to meet their needs in pro-social ways.
Originality/value –The study contributes to the understanding of attachment, coping and drug use in a
young offender population. It sets foundations in the authors’understanding of patterns of EMS in young
drug users and highlights the need for an integrated model of substance use which incorporates early
experiences, attachments and EMS.
Keywords Attachment, Young offenders, Coping styles, Drug use, Developmental factors,
Early maladaptive schemas
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
According to the good lives model, young offenders offend because they lack the skills and
capacity to meet their needs in pro-social ways (Ward et al., 2007). This is often due to neglectful
and traumatic experiences, poor parental relationships and ineffectual home environments
(Ministry of Justice, 2013). Young offenders commonly experience chaotic and hostile
upbringings compared to non-offenders (Ministry of Justice, 2013) and therefore lack
opportunities to learn the skills to achieve their goals. Hostile environments are not conducive to
forming positive relationships with caregivers or learning appropriate coping skills. It is postulated
that a lack of positive attachments is one contributing factor for the excessively high levels of
substance use in young offenders compared to non-offenders (Ministry of Justice, 2013).
Inconsistent findings in the research, however, suggest the relationship between attachment,
coping and substance use is complex and therefore a valid field for further study.
Parenting is a critical factor, and young offenders are more likely to experience lack of parental
supervision and separation from parents than non-offenders (McVie, 2010). These separations
Received 1 October 2016
Revised 2 December 2016
Accepted 3 December 2016
Adele Madden is a Psychology
Manager at the Scottish Prison
Service, Edinburgh, UK.
Dr Carol A. Ireland is a Senior
Research Lead at Ashworth
Research Centre, University of
Central Lancashire, UK and
Research Lead at CCATS
International Research
Centre, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-10-2016-0025 VOL. 3 NO. 1 2017, pp.51-60, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
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