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Behavioral Sciences
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Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes of Adverse and Traumatic Experiences Among...
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Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes of Adverse and Traumatic Experiences Among Justice-Involved Individuals: Future Directions for Treatment

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 991

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valeria Saladino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: violence prevention; criminal psychology; psychology of adolescence; behavioral psychology; youth development; addiction psychology; clinical health psychology
Dr. Danilo Calaresi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: childhood traumatic experiences and attachment; personality traits; psychological distress; behavioral addictions; adolescents and young adults; path analysis and SEM

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Justice-involved individuals, including those who are incarcerated, on probation, or otherwise entangled within the criminal justice system, frequently endure a wide range of adverse and traumatic experiences. These experiences often begin in early childhood, with many facing maltreatment, neglect, or abuse. As they progress through life, they may encounter further trauma, such as exposure to community violence, domestic violence, or systemic injustices. The cumulative impact of these traumas can have profound and long-lasting effects on their emotional and behavioral well-being. Among the most common long-term consequences are mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Behavioral challenges like aggression, impulsiveness, and involvement in substance use disorders are also prevalent, creating a cycle of maladaptive coping mechanisms and criminal behavior. This Special Issue aims to highlight strategies for mitigating the effects of trauma and promote interventions that address mental health, support rehabilitation, and facilitate reintegration for justice-involved individuals. We welcome a diverse array of research: exploratory and intervention studies, quantitative and qualitative research, original research articles, and reviews. By fostering collaboration, the goal is to advance our understanding of how tailored care can break the cycle of trauma and criminality, improving outcomes for individuals and communities.

Dr. Valeria Saladino
Dr. Danilo Calaresi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • trauma
  • adverse experiences
  • justice-involved individuals
  • criminal psychology
  • emotional outcomes
  • behavioral outcomes
  • intervention strategies
  • mental health treatments

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 365 KiB  
Article
Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences and Emotional Regulation Difficulties in a Sample of Incarcerated Men
by Bárbara Maia, Ana Rita Cruz and Olga Cunha
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15060828 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 123
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to a higher risk of criminal behaviour, while positive childhood experiences (PCEs) may offer a protective effect by mitigating the negative impact of ACEs. Both ACEs and PCEs play a significant role in shaping emotional regulation. However, [...] Read more.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to a higher risk of criminal behaviour, while positive childhood experiences (PCEs) may offer a protective effect by mitigating the negative impact of ACEs. Both ACEs and PCEs play a significant role in shaping emotional regulation. However, research on the influence of PCEs within incarcerated populations remains limited. This study aimed to examine the associations between ACEs, PCEs, and emotional regulation difficulties in a prison sample, and to explore whether PCEs moderate the relationship between ACEs and emotional regulation difficulties in adulthood. The analysis considered both the overall emotional regulation difficulties score and its specific dimensions—strategies, non-acceptance, impulse, goals, awareness, and clarity. The study included 283 men, with a mean age of 40.03 (SD = 11.64), ranging from 19 to 84 years, who were incarcerated in seven prisons in northern Portugal. Data were collected using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale, the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale, and the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale—Short Form. The results revealed statistically significant positive correlations between ACEs and overall emotional regulation difficulties, as well as with nearly all subscales (strategies, impulse, goals, awareness, and clarity). Conversely, PCEs were significantly negatively correlated with overall emotional regulation difficulties and most subscales (impulse, goals, awareness, and clarity). However, PCEs did not moderate the relationship between ACEs and emotional regulation difficulties. These findings may be influenced by the characteristics of the sample, highlighting the need for further research—preferably longitudinal studies—to better assess the potential moderating role of PCEs. Such research could enhance the effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies for incarcerated populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes of Adverse and Traumatic Experiences Among Justice-Involved Individuals: Future Directions for Treatment)
18 pages, 348 KiB  
Article
Violence Under Control: Self-Control and Psychopathy in Women Convicted of Violent Crimes
by Emma De Thouars Da Silva, Sofia Knittel, Afonso Borja Santos, Bárbara Pereira and Andreia de Castro Rodrigues
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050656 - 12 May 2025
Viewed by 494
Abstract
Despite the increase in the study of women and crimes committed by them, investigations continue to be scarce. Self-control and psychopathy have been widely studied in incarcerated populations, though more frequently in males than females. This study examines these psychological variables related to [...] Read more.
Despite the increase in the study of women and crimes committed by them, investigations continue to be scarce. Self-control and psychopathy have been widely studied in incarcerated populations, though more frequently in males than females. This study examines these psychological variables related to substance use history and violent crime in a sample of 94 incarcerated women in Portugal. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Self-Control Scale, and Levenson’s Self-Report Psychopathy Scale—VP. We found average self-control levels, with lower scores among participants with substance use. Significant differences in self-control emerged between women who committed homicide and those who did not. Psychopathy scores were above average, with significant differences in Factor 2 (impulsivity) between those who committed homicide and those who did not. Self-control and psychopathy were negatively associated, and psychopathy predicted self-control. These findings, which are not entirely consistent with the literature, challenge common assumptions about self-control, psychopathy, and crime, particularly in incarcerated women, and suggest that different mechanisms may drive violent and non-violent crimes in women. These results reinforce the need to consider gender-specific pathways to crime, highlighting the urgency of continuing to investigate the manifestation, in women, of widely studied variables in male samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes of Adverse and Traumatic Experiences Among Justice-Involved Individuals: Future Directions for Treatment)
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