Date of Award

Summer 2022

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Justice Studies

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Donna Perkins

Second Advisor

Kimberly Mitchell

Third Advisor

Robert Eckstein

Abstract

Polyvictimization and non-victimization adversity in adolescence is a prevalent and evolving issue that poses many implications for families, teachers, policymakers, and others. This study sought to examine whether polyvictimization and adversity longitudinally predict later delinquency, and the possible mediating role of parental context and social support on this relationship. Data was collected as part of the THV survey and the NatSCEV II and yielded a final sample of 791 youths ages 10-20. Poisson regression analyses and structural equation modeling were conducted. Results demonstrated that over and above the impact of demographics, delinquency at Time 1, and community disorder, experiencing composite polyvictimization, peer and sibling victimization, or witnessing/indirect victimization uniquely predicted later engagement in delinquency. Contemporaneous parental context, involvement, and hostility fully or partially mediated the relationship between polyvictimization, adversity, and delinquency. Additionally, total social support and family social support partially mediated the relationship between polyvictimization and delinquency, and fully mediated non-victimization adversity, but only when contemporaneous parenting context was not in the mediational model. Implications for these findings are discussed.

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