Prospective Relationships Among Depression and Perceived Opportunity in Juvenile Offenders

Michael F. Sandella, Gavin N. Rackoff, Michelle G. Newman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Among juveniles in the justice system, depression and perceived opportunity have implications for long-term adjustment. The prospective associations between these two constructs have not yet been examined in this population. We studied the longitudinal association between depression and perceived opportunity in a sample of recently adjudicated juvenile offenders. Juvenile offenders (n = 1,354) completed measures of depression and perceived opportunity shortly after adjudication and then every 6 months thereafter for 3 years (7 time points total). Relative to White juvenile offenders, lower average levels of perceived opportunity were observed among Black, Hispanic, and juveniles of other races/ethnicities. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed that greater depression was associated with lower subsequent perceived opportunity (d = -0.22, p < .001). Higher perceived opportunity did not predict subsequent depression (d = -0.07, p = .208). The nonexperimental design prevented inferences about causal links between depression and perceived opportunity. Results should also be replicated in a recently collected dataset. Findings suggested a scar-like effect, such that depression was unidirectionally and negatively associated with lower future perceived opportunity among juveniles. Future research should investigate if treatment for depression improves juvenile offenders’ perceived opportunity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)177-191
Number of pages15
JournalBehavior Therapy
Volume56
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2025

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Clinical Psychology

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