Child maltreatment and psychopathology among institutionalized and incarcerated adolescents in Nigeria: A latent class analysis approach

Background

Child maltreatment (CM) is prevalent among residentially-placed or incarcerated adolescents and is a risk factor for behavioral health disorders. No study conducted in a low-income country has empirically compared the types of CM and adverse outcomes experienced by these high-risk adolescents.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to identify profiles of CM-and their association with behavioral health problems among at-risk adolescents in Nigeria.

Participants and Setting: Participants comprised adolescents in juvenile detention facilities (N = 102) and adolescents in residential placements (N = 103) aged 10–17 years old.

Methods

A two-step latent class analysis (LCA) was applied with data from validated self-report measures of CM to identify distinct profiles of maltreatment and their association with validated self-report measures of behavioral health problems and PTSD symptoms.

Results

Three latent classes were identified: (1) witnessing violence and neglect class (N = 20,10 %); physical and emotional abuse class (N = 41,20 %); and multiple maltreatment class (N = 144, 70 %). The physical and emotional abuse class (class 2) and the multiple maltreatment class (class 3) reported significantly higher rates of other adversities (i.e., parent/guardian incarceration and poverty) and more severe angry and irritable symptoms, traumatic experiences, thought disturbances, and somatic complaints when compared to the witnessing violence and neglect class. The multiple maltreatment class had more severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms than the other two classes. The witnessing violence and neglect class, however, had more severe anxiety depression symptoms than the other classes and more severe suicidal ideation than the multiple maltreatment class.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the role of exposure to multiple forms of maltreatment (i.e., poly-victimization) among incarcerated and institutionalized adolescents, and highlight the need to address depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in youths who have witnessed violence or experienced neglect. Integrating CM and PTSD screening into mental health service for these vulnerable youth could enhance their rehabilitation and treatment by identifying and remediating the adverse effects of different patterns of poly-victimization and CM.