Research Snapshot - Friendships, Mental Health and Poverty in Court-Involved Youth

What did the researchers do? The friendships of the young people were understood As part of this study, 281 youth files from London Family according to a youth’s report of having friends or no Court Clinic (LFCC) were reviewed. [...] Research Snapshot | Friendships, Mental Health and Poverty in Court Involved Youth What did we find? Poverty, negative peer environments, and Peer isolation amongst these youth was linked to antisocial friendships are evident in the lives of increased mental health problems: court-involved youth: • One out of ten of the youth were identified as • While almost 20% of the youth lived in having no fr. [...] More severe negative peer environments Poverty was associated with young people’s increased the chance of psychological difficulties involvement in a negative peer environment: and offending behaviour: • For every additional contributor to poverty, a • Higher negative peer environments tended young person’s involvement in a negative peer to increase the likelihood of mental health environment incr. [...] Knowing that young offenders are negatively Efforts to assist youth should also address the influenced through their friendships, future effects of poverty and target key needs of young rehabilitative efforts should address the function people including their daily care and their access to of these friendships. [...] Research Snapshot | Friendships, Mental Health and Poverty in Court Involved Youth Original Research Article: For a complete description of the research and findings, please see the full research article by clicking here About the Authors: Alan Leschied, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Education, Western University and Victoria Sabo, MA, CCC.