Correlates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationships between firesetting, antisocial behaviour, individual, family and parenting factors in a large community sample of adolescents. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of students (n = 2596) aged 13 years on average, from 27 schools in South Australia with a question...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Martin, G, Bergen, H, Richardson, A, Roeger, L, Allison, S
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2004
_version_ 1797085435128709120
author Martin, G
Bergen, H
Richardson, A
Roeger, L
Allison, S
author_facet Martin, G
Bergen, H
Richardson, A
Roeger, L
Allison, S
author_sort Martin, G
collection OXFORD
description OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationships between firesetting, antisocial behaviour, individual, family and parenting factors in a large community sample of adolescents. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of students (n = 2596) aged 13 years on average, from 27 schools in South Australia with a questionnaire on firesetting, antisocial behaviour (adapted 21-item Self Report Delinquency Scale), risk-taking, drug use, suicidality, physical and sexual abuse, depressive symptomatology, hopelessness, anxiety, locus of control, self-esteem, family functioning (McMaster Family Assessment Device) and parenting style (Influential Relationships Questionnaire). Data analysis included chi2, anova and logistic regression. RESULTS: Large significant differences are found between firesetters and non-firesetters on all measures. Among adolescents with serious levels of antisocial behaviour (7+ acts included in diagnostic guidelines for DSM-IV conduct disorder), firesetters differ from non-firesetters in reporting more extreme antisocial behaviour (10+ acts), extreme drug use, suicidal behaviour, and perceived failure at school. Gender differences are apparent. A study limitation is the single item assessment of firesetting. CONCLUSIONS: Self-report firesetting is strongly associated with extreme antisocial behaviour in young community adolescents, in support of existing evidence from incarcerated delinquent and psychiatric populations. Early detection of community firesetters demands further assessment and intervention. Clinicians should consider its coexistence with serious drug use and high risk-taking (especially in girls), and suicidality, sexual and physical abuse (in boys).
first_indexed 2024-03-07T02:08:58Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:9fefc4a0-57f0-4c45-8c7f-fbf4901a43fe
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T02:08:58Z
publishDate 2004
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:9fefc4a0-57f0-4c45-8c7f-fbf4901a43fe2022-03-27T02:01:52ZCorrelates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:9fefc4a0-57f0-4c45-8c7f-fbf4901a43feEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2004Martin, GBergen, HRichardson, ARoeger, LAllison, S OBJECTIVE: To investigate relationships between firesetting, antisocial behaviour, individual, family and parenting factors in a large community sample of adolescents. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of students (n = 2596) aged 13 years on average, from 27 schools in South Australia with a questionnaire on firesetting, antisocial behaviour (adapted 21-item Self Report Delinquency Scale), risk-taking, drug use, suicidality, physical and sexual abuse, depressive symptomatology, hopelessness, anxiety, locus of control, self-esteem, family functioning (McMaster Family Assessment Device) and parenting style (Influential Relationships Questionnaire). Data analysis included chi2, anova and logistic regression. RESULTS: Large significant differences are found between firesetters and non-firesetters on all measures. Among adolescents with serious levels of antisocial behaviour (7+ acts included in diagnostic guidelines for DSM-IV conduct disorder), firesetters differ from non-firesetters in reporting more extreme antisocial behaviour (10+ acts), extreme drug use, suicidal behaviour, and perceived failure at school. Gender differences are apparent. A study limitation is the single item assessment of firesetting. CONCLUSIONS: Self-report firesetting is strongly associated with extreme antisocial behaviour in young community adolescents, in support of existing evidence from incarcerated delinquent and psychiatric populations. Early detection of community firesetters demands further assessment and intervention. Clinicians should consider its coexistence with serious drug use and high risk-taking (especially in girls), and suicidality, sexual and physical abuse (in boys).
spellingShingle Martin, G
Bergen, H
Richardson, A
Roeger, L
Allison, S
Correlates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents.
title Correlates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents.
title_full Correlates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents.
title_fullStr Correlates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents.
title_full_unstemmed Correlates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents.
title_short Correlates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents.
title_sort correlates of firesetting in a community sample of young adolescents
work_keys_str_mv AT marting correlatesoffiresettinginacommunitysampleofyoungadolescents
AT bergenh correlatesoffiresettinginacommunitysampleofyoungadolescents
AT richardsona correlatesoffiresettinginacommunitysampleofyoungadolescents
AT roegerl correlatesoffiresettinginacommunitysampleofyoungadolescents
AT allisons correlatesoffiresettinginacommunitysampleofyoungadolescents