Is Violence Bad for Your Health? An Assessment of Chronic Disease Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Sample

Abstract

Longitudinal offending research has grown substantially in the last two decades. Despite this increased scholarly attention, longitudinal investigations of the effects of offending on physical health have not kept pace. Acknowledging the intersections of criminology, criminal justice, and public health, this study examines the relationship between violent offending and chronic diseases among a nationally representative longitudinal sample of young adults. Results suggest that variation across offender typologies (i.e. adolescence-limited, adult-onset, and consistent violence during youth and young adulthood) significantly predicts experiencing chronic disease in early adulthood, with the risk being the most pronounced among those individuals, who demonstrate violence continuity. Study limitations and policy implications are discussed.

Keywords:

• offending
• violence
• chronic disease
• longitudinal

Notes

1. The Poisson model provided a better fit to the data when compared with a negative binomial model based on a likelihood ratio test for significance of overdispersion, which indicated that the Poisson distribution assumption was reasonable.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer M. Reingle

Jennifer M. Reingle is a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Florida. She earned her doctoral degree in epidemiology from the University of Florida in August 2011. She has published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles, and her major research interests include the relationship between prescription drug use and violence, longitudinal data analysis, and health disparities in substance use.

Wesley G. Jennings

Wesley G. Jennings is an assistant professor in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences in the Department of Criminology and has a courtesy assistant professor appointment in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at the University of South Florida. He received his doctorate degree in criminology from the University of Florida in 2007. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, and his major research interests include longitudinal data analysis, semi-parametric group-based modeling, sex offending, gender, and race/ethnicity. He is also currently a co-investigator on a National Institute of Justice funded project examining sex offender recidivism and collateral consequences. In addition, he is a recent recipient of the 2011 William S. Simon/Anderson Publishing Outstanding Paper Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Alex R. Piquero

Alex R. Piquero is ashbel smith professor in the Program in Criminology in the School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas, Adjunct Professor Key center for Ethics, Law, Justice, and Governance, Griffith University Australia, and the co-editor of the Journal of Quantitative Criminology. His research interests include criminal careers, criminological theory, and quantitative research methods. He has received several research, teaching, and service awards and is a fellow of both the American Society of Criminology and Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Mildred M. Maldonado-Molina

Mildred M. Maldonado-Molina is an associate professor in the Department of Health Outcomes and Policy and the Institute for Child Health Policy at the University of Florida. Her research interests include examining health disparities in alcohol and drug use among adolescents, alcohol policy research, and longitudinal methods.