The relationship between connectedness and mental health symptoms among Black youth involved in the juvenile justice system: a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model

ABSTRACT

Using data from the Pathways to Desistance Project, this study examined the bi-directional and longitudinal relationship between mental health symptoms and connectedness among 561 system involved Black youth. Higher mental health symptom scores at baseline increased connectedness scores one year later. Connectedness scores increased for two consecutive years until the transition to adulthood when participants were on average 19–20 years-old. During the transition to adulthood, mental health symptom scores worsened, highlighting the transition to adulthood as a key timepoint to administer supportive interventions addressing the mental health needs of Black youth who interact with the juvenile justice system.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental health
• black youth
• connectedness
• juvenile justice
• transition to adulthood

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research at https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/NAHDAP/studies/29961, reference number [ICPSR 29961]. These data were derived from the following resources available in the public domain: https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/NAHDAP/studies/; https://www.pathwaysstudy.pitt.edu/