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Psychosocial and genetic risk markers for longitudinal trends in delinquency
an empirical assessment and practical discussion
Sullivan, C. J., & Newsome, J. (2015). Psychosocial and genetic risk markers for longitudinal trends in delinquency: an empirical assessment and practical discussion. Criminal Justice Studies, 28(1), 61-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/1478601X.2014.1000005
The increased use of biosocial perspectives in criminological research has expanded the scope of factors considered in understanding the etiology of adolescent antisocial behavior. At the same time, its practical utility for preventive and remedial intervention has not been examined to the same degree. Using a large, nationally representative sample of youth (N = 2573) and a series of latent growth curve models, this study examines the relative utility of a psychosocial risk composite and genetic indicators (DRD2, DRD4, DAT1, 5-HTTLPR, MAO-A) in predicting the onset and later developmental patterns of adolescent and early adult delinquency and criminal behavior. The results show that the psychosocial risk composite measure has significant effects on the latent growth factors, while the main and interactive effects of the genetic indicators do not. The subsequent discussion considers the practical implications of these empirical findings in the context of extant research and pinpoints some possible future applications of this area of research. It also identifies some parallel cases of translational criminology that may serve as indications of how this research might inform policy and practice going forward.
