The Link Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adult Offending: An Integrative Review Protocol

<ns5:p>Background Childhood trauma, including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, is associated with a range of adverse health and social outcomes, including an increased risk of criminal behaviour in adulthood. Understanding the relationship between childhood trauma and adult offending is essential for informing prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation strategies. Although trauma-informed approaches are increasingly recognised within criminal justice systems, a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence examining this association and the mechanisms underlying it is lacking. Objective To examine the association between childhood trauma and adult offending, identify mediating and moderating factors influencing this relationship, critically appraise the quality and consistency of the evidence, and synthesise findings to improve understanding of potential pathways. The findings will be interpreted using Life Course Theory, with additional insights informed by Social Learning Theory. Design An integrative literature review will be undertaken. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature will be searched to identify relevant studies. Two reviewers will independently screen studies against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with disagreements resolved through discussion. Included studies will be critically appraised using the Aggregated Assessment of Diverse Studies tool, and findings synthesised using an integrative review methodology. The findings will be interpreted within a culturally responsive framework that recognises the diverse cultural identities of Aotearoa New Zealand and the broader social and historical contexts influencing resilience. Reporting will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Conclusion Understanding the relationship between childhood trauma and adult offending may inform trauma-informed prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation strategies across health, social, and criminal justice systems. The findings may support policy development, improve services for individuals affected by childhood trauma, and contribute to reducing offending while promoting positive life outcomes.</ns5:p>