Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescent Delinquency: A Narrative Review
Keywords:
Adverse Childhood Experiences, juvenile delinquency, adolescents, childhood trauma, emotion regulationAbstract
Juvenile delinquency remains a serious issue in Indonesia, often exacerbated by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as childhood abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction. This narrative review aims to integrate research findings regarding the relationship between ACEs and adolescent delinquent behavior, including its characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and implications for prevention. A structured literature search was conducted via PubMed and Google Scholar using a combination of relevant keywords for publications spanning 2020–2026. Out of 3.734 initial articles, 8 primary articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using narrative-thematic synthesis. The synthesis reveals that ACEs significantly increase adolescent vulnerability to delinquent behavior and violence, with the risk directly correlating to the accumulation, specific types, and continuity of childhood adversity. Notably, physical and sexual abuse are strongly associated with criminal behaviors. The psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying this relationship include impaired emotion regulation, low self-control, and altered stress responses, which are further aggravated by dysfunctional family relationships. Consequently, preventing juvenile delinquency requires early intervention through ACEs screening, strengthening family roles, implementing trauma-informed approaches in schools, and fostering cross-sector collaboration involving the juvenile justice system and communities. In conclusion, childhood trauma drives adolescent delinquency through complex developmental processes, underscores the necessity for early prevention strategies that prioritize trauma recovery, psychological resilience, and robust cross-environmental support systems.
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