Operationalizing childhood adversity to predict delinquency: Comparing single adversity, cumulative risk, and latent class approaches

Key Points

• Delinquency rates are significantly influenced by childhood adversity, revealing complex relationships.
• High-risk youth exposed to multiple adversities show increased delinquency, underlining urgent intervention needs.
• Assessment using predictive modeling methods differentiates single from cumulative risks to better understand outcomes.
• Further investigation is warranted into diverse affinities for delinquency based on adversity types and combinations.