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ABSTRACT
Children involved with the juvenile justice system for engaging in unlawful acts are more likely than their peers of the same age to use cannabis and alcohol, which increases the likelihood of adverse behavioral outcomes and prolonged involvement with the judicial system. This study focuses on the relationship between child maltreatment, emotional intelligence and drug dependence among children in conflict with the law. The participants of the study are 130 justice-involved male juveniles in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu who are given the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ), and Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) for assessment. Interviews are conducted to obtain the data required for the study. For the statistical analysis, frequency, t-test, correlation, and regression analyses are used. Results of the study indicates that low level/lack of emotional intelligence which enhances the likelihood of juveniles being in conflict with the law and engaging in harmful, drug-dependent behavior. No significant relationship is observed between child maltreatment and drug-dependent behavior. For these juveniles, marijuana serves as the gateway drug. Peer influence and school dropout have a substantial influence on drug-dependent behavior.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to extend their gratitude to all the youngsters who readily participated in this study. They also wish to thank The Department of Social Defence, Tamil Nadu, India for the assistance rendered.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The data presented in this study are available on request from the author.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Devi Sekar
Devi Sekar is a research scholar at the Department of Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. Her research area is criminal and forensic psychology, focusing on juvenile victimization, substance addiction, and deviant behavior.
Mohanraj Bhuvaneswari
Dr. Mohanraj Bhuvaneswari is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu, India, and has expertise in Counselling, industrial psychology, and adolescent psychology. Dr. Bhuvaneswari is also a professional Counsellor with several years of experience. She coauthored several articles and book chapters.